Protests across K-P on special court’s verdict

Protesters say the verdict was pronounced without following due process of law

CHITRAL/ PESHAWAR: Supporters of former dictator General (retired Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday staged protests across the province against the verdict of a special court.

Workers of the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) — the political party formed by Gen Musharraf — gathered in Chitral on Wednesday and offered to accept the death penalty on behalf of the former dictator who had been sentenced by the special court on Tuesday.

Addressing a news conference on Tuesday, Shahzada APML leaders Amirul Hasnat, Mohsin Hayat, Abdul Qayyum, Ahmed Khan, Mir Rahim, Waqas Ahmed, and others said the death sentence handed to Gen Musharraf in the treason case had sent shockwaves across Chitral.

The activists reiterated that Gen Musharraf was a benefactor of Chitrali people and the court’s verdict was against the interests of the country. They reiterated the party line that the judgment had been pronounced without following the due process of law.

APML leaders said that their leader has been suffering from poor health and to be hanged till death, a person has to be healthy.

Further, the activists slammed the special court as being politically motivated since it was established during the reign of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

“The case was made against a single person which clearly shows the bias of the then-government,” they asserted.

Peshawar protest

The Pakistan Nishan-e-Haider Defense Council on Wednesday staged a protest against the decision of special court outside the Peshawar Press Club (PPC). The protestors chanted slogans in favour of former president Gen Musharraf as they held aloft placards and banners panning the verdict. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2019.