Former president Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
In an effort to refrain former president general (retd) Pervez Musharraf from getting bail in Lal Masjid case, Shohada Foundation of Pakistan (SFP) formed a three-member lawyers’ panel on Saturday and invited other lawyers to join the prosecution against Musharraf.
The three-member panel formed by the foundation representing Lal Masjid is led by Advocate Tariq Asad. “Lal Masjid case represents the general public. We would welcome lawyers to come forward and join us in the case,” Asad said on Saturday.
The panel was formed after the hearing in Musharraf’s bail plea was adjourned on Saturday till October 30, due to lawyers’ strike in the courts. The decision to increase the numerical strength of the legal team came in the wake of ‘rumours’ that former president might get a safe passage to exit Pakistan after getting bail in the Lal Masjid case — the last criminal case against him in which he has not got a bail.
The main complainant in the case is Haroonur Rashid Ghazi, son of Lal Masjid’s deputy cleric Abdur Rashid Ghazi who was killed in 2007’s military operation on the mosque.
The initially formed three-member panel includes Advocate Supreme Court Malik Abdul Haq and Advocate High Court Wajihullah besides the team leader Advocate Asad. The two new members of the team submitted their papers on Saturday before the court hearing Musharraf’s bail plea.
Advocate Asad said the case was one of its kinds in the world history. “Nowhere in the world do we find an example of such large scale massacre of innocent students ordered by their own head of the state,” said the lawyer.
The former president Musharraf has already denied allegations of murder and killings in the Lal Masjid operation. In his statement to the investigation team in the case, the former president maintained the operation was ordered and executed by the then government.
In its report, the one-member judicial commission formed on the order of Supreme Court has also acknowledged that circumstances created by the Lal Masjid administration in 2007 warranted action from the government.
Avoiding fixing a clear responsibility for the operation, the one-man commission however went on to state that it could have been avoided but “it appears the former president (Musharraf) was bent upon teaching Ghazi brothers and Lal Masjid administration a lesson.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2013.
COMMENTS (23)
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@Ch. Allah Daad: @Sohail You both are missing the point. Musharraf's position that the order was given by the government is a LEGAL argument. He is separating the guilt of a single person from the guilt of a government. The Lal Masjid action was rightfully taken on the orders of the then government and government's just action (e.g. for protecting the security of its citizens) cannot be challenged in courts. Musharraf is not a coward, he always sides with his soldiers whenever he speaks. There's a difference between a personal opinion/position and a legal argument.
Why not bring him to trial so he can either clear his name or end up in jail? All of his alleged crimes are years old and don't need interminable investigations.
"The former president Musharraf has already denied allegations of murder and killings in the Lal Masjid operation. In his statement to the investigation team in the case, the former president maintained the operation was ordered and executed by the then government."
The best thing Musharaf did and he is denying it. History will not witness such a coward. We don't know how many Musharaf's are there in our army. He was Chief of army staff. His soldiers took part in the operation and some were killed and he denies of knowing or ordering that operation. Shame on him. He should have stood like a man and have taken the responsiblity.
Musharraf should be prosecuted for violating the constitution and not for these cases, any government legal or illegal has the responsibility to maintain law and order in the country and the Ghazi brothers were not acting in the most peaceful way, that said, it is also the responsibility of the current government to prosecute those who has violated the constitution willfully to over throw an elected government. No matter how bad the performance of Nawaz Sharif was in 1999, he could have been defeated in another election, people has the right to do it but there is no right for any General to take over with the barrel of gun. Generals are paid to safe guard the borders and keep the enemies of the nation at bay. The most important point is that Musharraf has violated the constitution and the laws of the land and let us not forget that he had incarcerated the highest judiciary of the land for prolonging his illegal rule. How do you get rid of dictators, we know for sure that it was the USA which helped discarded him after 10 years. He must not be set free and should be prosecuted for what he has done and make him an example for other Generals who may be dreaming of becoming Presidents with the barrel of gun. In democracy people will change the government if they are not satisfied, we just saw what happened to that corrupt and incompetent government of PPP. Does any one think that we could get rid of dictators just after 5 years, I don't think so. By the way the current situation in Pakistan is a gift from another dictator who even hanged an elected prime minister, he was the darling of the Republicans in the USA.
@Asim Ali: You're right. Media is infested with Taliban apologists!
Ghazi, his brother and all their companions were deadly terrorists. Musharraf punished them rightly.I like him.
“Lal Masjid case represents the general public......." This is false, far from truth, a blatant lie, that place was a terrorist den, an ammunition dump and it represented everything that stand against the people in general and residents of that locality in particular. President Musharraf's action reflected the will of the people and ensured safety of the general public in the country. These so called lawyers should come out in the open and don't cover themselves in the noble profession of a lawyer, they are also terrorists of sorts, by such tactics they wish to terrorise others. Must be condemned in strong words and opposed whole heartedly.
Mush, you were the greatest!
"massacre of innocent students" who carry guns.. make that Lal Masjid into a fortress.. Kill Military officers..
well.. we need to revisit and re-evaluate the word INNOCENT in this country
Why so much hue and cry for PM being trialed for ruthlessly killing innocents. You guys give hime credit for wiping out extremists while paradoxically he categorically denies his involvement in all of this and says local govt of that time gave orders to bomb phosphorus on innocent men and women. I did not.
Judicial terrorism is a phenomenon now !
P.S. I am not pro Musharraf.
Former President Musharraf. while ordering action against the obdurate clerics of Lal Masjid who gave shelter to terrorists, discharged his duty as a Head of the State. If he is punished for this constitutional duty, then in future every head of State will be bound to seek Judicial authorisation and advice of legal fraternity for giving orders to armed forces even in case of foreign aggression.
Paskistan should really been given to Taliban - after all anyone fighting against them is a criminal so why not!
“Nowhere in the world do we find an example of such large scale massacre of innocent students ordered by their own head of the state,” said the lawyer. Disappointing to see the picture painted by these innocent imposters. These so called innocent students were carrying weapons instead of books. instead of talks to defend themselves they were using RPGs.
But what about those jawans who lost their lives in this whole episode. Did anyone came up to file suit against Mr. Ghazi and regime for invoking students to betray their own country.
Seems PM is being targeted and these lawyers are serving the interests of Mr. Suo Moto.
Shamless lawyers. No wonder it is the most disgusting profession in the world. They will not say anything about the fanatics from Lal Masjid kidnapping foreign nationals, keeping arms and terrorists in their compound, attacking the military and the writ of the state. Musharaff should have dealt with these lawyers more strictly.
I would like to call upon those given the medals and honorary degrees to Chief Justice, to come to Pakistan, assess the situation, talk to people, review CJ's performance, judge the outcome of his so called struggle (read saving job), review the cases against his son...
You will shout at CJ to return those medals and degrees!
General What Comes Around Goes Around!
Finally...the cat is out of the bag.....LAWYERS SUPPORT THE TERRORISTS! Now we can clearly see where this country heading to!
It seems terrorists are running the country.
Monkeys are running the country and it seems that media is following to gain cheap publicity. It is this very media which showed us the terrorists of Lal Masjid. It is this very media reported the harassment of citizens of Islamabad by these terrorists. And now the media is pointing guns at the former President. What a crazy state of affais
Seriously on what evidence are they keeping him house arrested...our judiciary is a joke.