Pakistan

SHC declares Musharraf an 'absconder'

The SHC has declared former president Pervez Musharraf an absconder after he failed to appear in court.

Express August 10, 2010

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has declared former president Pervez Musharraf an absconder for not appearing in court on several notices.

The verdict was given on a petition filed by Maulvi Iqbal Haider.

Haider maintained that Musharraf had misused his authority and imposed the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) in the country. He requested the court to register a case of treason against Musharraf for violating the constitution.

The SHC issued various notices to the former president, but when he failed to appear, declared him an absconder.

COMMENTS (48)

saeed Chughtai | 14 years ago | Reply This is another reason why no Pakistani leader stand up to western counties. Because they know after their rule is over their life will be made miserable by new government and old enimies and they will have to head west to take refuge. All previous head of states should be allowed to live peacefully in the country so that the new head of state can make decisions freely and in the best interest of nation.

saeed Chughtai | 14 years ago | Reply People of Pakistan are getting what they deserve. They chose it themselves. This is what happens to the nations who do not respect good leaders (like Musharraf). If the judiciary is good in declaring Musharaf an absconder, I congratulate people of Pakistan. Be happy with your democracy and free judiciary. If the system is so good, what are they complaining about? The worst is yet to come. Vote Nawaz and see what happens.

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Farhad | 14 years ago | Reply The general is the single closest thing that we have to a father of the nation that we can depend on. I want to ask everyone in this tread that is criticizing Musharaff, where did the progress Pakistan was making disappear to and when? The answer is that we hit rock bottom a year into the PPP Democratic Government. We are no better for it since. During Mush's time in office, people thought about this country positively. For those of you game theory experts, chew on this. The transition from the Mush Era to the PPP Govt. has moved this country as a whole and its population from a Staghunt game to a ZERO SUM game. A direction in which it is inevitably moving towards. If he is going to be tried for violating the constitution, there are hundreds of others that deserve to be shot for treason as well. Where are their verdicts? Musharaff might not be an angel, but he is the best option this country has, a country that is not ready for democracy just yet.

Yasir | 14 years ago | Reply what else should have been done if he did not appear before the honorable court despite being summoned repeatedly. The verdict seems the accurate depiction of the rule of law.Under constitution ,Every ordinary citizen,who ignores such notice, is subjected to the same verdict then why not musharraf. his act of ignoring court notices shows disobedience to the constitutional and legal provisions which reflects his alleged patriotism as well. The traitor who dares to think himself superior than the constitution deserve much more....... hats off to the Court!!

Malik Tabeer | 14 years ago | Reply Shahryar well said

RZ | 14 years ago | Reply Let "Shareef Chaudhry" do all he can. These people are pygmies in front of General Musharraf. He will come and send Nawaz to Jeddah and Chaudhry to Lahore.

Danish | 14 years ago | Reply Petty minds, settling personal scores at the State's cost. That's all a democracy in an illiterate country can accomplish!!!! No relief for the common man, what a shame!!!!

Saim Saeed Tanauli | 14 years ago | Reply Took a very long time for this decision !! It should have come a long time ago...but lets hope that this time action is taken likewise !!

Syed A. Mateen | 14 years ago | Reply In politics people go up and then down like every day the sun rise and then people see sunset. If General (R) Pervez Mushrraf is out of politics, this does not mean that he will never enter into politics again. He has already aanounced his political party APML. The time will speak when he will enter into politics and whenever he will enter into practical politics it will make all the difference. There are people who are against Musharraf and there are also people who are with Musharraf. Whether Musharraf will come back into power or not it will be decided through ballot.

SadafFayyaz | 14 years ago | Reply The most pathetic judicial system I have ever seen,,,,

Shahryar Ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply Dear KM, i wonder have you ever spoken to any army person, I doubt so if you had you would never doubt his patriotism. By the way to refresh your memory, he was fought 2 wars 65-71 for Pakistan & commanded a tank battalion I think. Interestingly, he saved a couple of his fellow army men during 71 war with India & got a medal to show for. Is that patriotic enough for you? I know it is for many of us. Furthermore, my friend Mr. Rakesh, as for your comment he will come & face even these kangaroo courts, where the judges have becoming nothing short of a political party giving political judgments & statements. Where on earth can you have a sitting High Court Judge of a province declare in writing that his sons received a what was the word packet full of GBP (i assume) when they visited the current chief minister of the same province at the time of their exile in the harsh conditions & discomfort of their tiny 8 bedroom apartment (by the way the same family owns or use to own not 1 but a whole block of these apartments along with many prime property in the same town) in a down ridden district of London (Park Lane). By the way, according to the code of conduct for judges, it is prohibited, yes prohibited for a judge to socialize with any government official. It is something people call, what is the correct word......hmmmmm ah yes Conflict Of Interest. Ever heard of this? Regards

Shani Syed | 14 years ago | Reply people get ready to welcome a new party for next elections... the Lawyers loyal party!!! or perhaps Wukla League to ruin the already ruined country

Umair | 14 years ago | Reply Naveed! you want him to return to ruin us whatever this country is left with?

Bangash | 14 years ago | Reply Another stupid decision by Pakistan's useless judiciary. Reminds of the Facebook bans. In the face of airline crashes, floods and govt corruption, these decisions of judiciary make them look even more stupid.

Ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply Whay are we all such critics. A guy who stabled the economy and where the prices were controlled we had better and much reserves moreever the dollar was stable is being termed as an absconder. We all are not angels and everybody commits mistakes. His mistake was just the Chief justice. Overall if u compare our politicians with him i think he is the best.

Syed Mohammad Naveed | 14 years ago | Reply you can see the comments from top to bottom and think what peoples want they want MUSHARRAF again Inshahallah he will return again

Mohammed Abbasi | 14 years ago | Reply 'maulvi/mullah' i wish we can deal with these through jinnahs pakistans laws

Farhan Khan | 14 years ago | Reply Nawaz Poodle courts

Muhammad Usman Ghani | 14 years ago | Reply Why we want all RIGHT persons? He incl all else must be brought to court of Law as HE had highest levels of responsibility and authority. Why you say courts and anything else that conflicts with our own interests is wrong? Do you want more of Gun culture type Justice like it was in Wild West? His closest aides, and seniors find him wrong and grossly responsible for all the things we face today...from Terrorism to institutional Corruption. We were helpless and silent and incapable at time of 2005 Earthquake and same we are five years after with Floods in 2010. Create One more NDMA, One more HEC, One More, NCHD, One more NADRA and one more PTA....create as many white elephants as you want. We have to accept the places where even our GREAT ARMY and NUCLEAR (or UNCLEAR) ARSENAL can't help.

Zafar | 14 years ago | Reply That is exactly what happens in countries with politicized judiciary. Why be surprised by this. people were sadly mistaken by the Azad Adlia slogans. How can that be when our society is imperfect from top to bottom. This verdict is a sad sad reflection of the rot we are in. Well this cycle has to play itself out for another few years. Then !!!

Umar | 14 years ago | Reply I guess the case was not to decide how patriot a leader Musharraf was/is. If the court summons you, whether you are Musharraf 'the Patriot' or Javed Iqbal the killer of a hundred children, you have to attend it. It is that simple!! Besides, he has just been declared an absconder, a person who willfully avoids the court. WAS THE COURT WRONG TO DETERMINE THAT ?

Dr. Mohammad Ilyas | 14 years ago | Reply I fully endorse comments of Mr. Shahyar Khan. I am sure Moulvi Iqbal and the judges are working for someone. The whole nation will for sure stay behind our brave leader Musharraf. Nawaz and company are afraid of Musharraf. They consider Musharaf as the only threat to their agenda of corruption. Long live Musharraf. Pakistan first.

Ahmed Z. Khan | 14 years ago | Reply the cases are misuse of the so called hand-written constitutions that are violated by the common man in our daily lives..Musharraf is a hero!! Come Back General!!

Patriot | 14 years ago | Reply Oh come on courts...your favourite baby Geo TV is under attack by the real "democrats"...go help them out...Molvi Iqbal Haider has wasted his whole life in non-sense petitions (inclusing this), you guys dont waste your time and bail your puppies out!!!

M. Kamran Khan | 14 years ago | Reply Musharraf Sir whole Pakistani nation is with you.

SherY | 14 years ago | Reply Unfortunately, While seeking a true Judiciary we have given powers to a group of most Corrupt & Politically motivated malefactor to play with Justice.

Syed Mohammad Naveed | 14 years ago | Reply According to the judiciary that he is absconder, we can just laughed on this remarks, he is going around the world given lecturers in the universities,facing media and now he is making his own party and inshah allah it will bring positive changes in Pakistan. At that time when he broken the constitution the all parties were standing with Sir, musharraf and as far as chief justice concerned he was accused in corruption,and the other thing why was he took oath of PCO under the Sir, Musharraf’s obligation ? a big question mark?he is still honorable in Pakistan and foreign, his all initiative which he had took were going into the Pakistan’s favor and for its people, and right now there is desperately his need to Pakistan

Wajid Rasul | 14 years ago | Reply Gen. Musharraf is a coward at a run and an absconder. Very right decision by SHC. He should be brought back and MUSt be trialed.

Aamir | 14 years ago | Reply I think all those who have been in the politics or running the Govt. are evil. The only thing we can do at this point in time is to choose the lesser evil among all and to me Musharraf is a better choice. He may have made wrong decisions while in power but I don't think anyone can involve him in financial corruption of any sort, like the present people in power. I agree that judiciary at present is more inclined towards Nawaz Sharif and his party but at the same time have not taken any concrete actions against the serving corrupts. Judiciary if not biased has to take some bold steps.

Shani Syed | 14 years ago | Reply Musharaf was far better than these people the so called "Dheet Democratics" shameless people....I hope he returns and I pray he has learned from the mistakes he made but on an over all scale he is a better person than all of these corrupt politicians. Judges what about gtting into real problems of common man??? giving insaaf to the innocent can u imagine only in Karachi Landhi jail there are people who are there for five years, waiting for their trials, even if convicted and proven guilty of charges against them they would have served the sentence for only six months....I wish the CJ would prove to be a hero by bringing true justice and people will not have to wait ages for justice and still you dont get it...And then why only Musharraf how bout convicting punishing the culprits with wealth outside the country earned on the expense of blood of the poor awam???? Politicians, judiciary, beurucracy the whole system is God Damn ROtten

kanwal jahan | 14 years ago | Reply there are many other cases as well about which this court never do anything..where went the swiss account case?? he will be back INSHALLAH

Muhammed Ali Mustafa | 14 years ago | Reply Problem of Musharaf is this that he is urdu speaking like Dr AQ Khan

Syed Mohammad Naveed | 14 years ago | Reply According to the judiciary that he is absconder, we can just laughed on this remarks, he is going around the world given lecturers in the universities,facing media and now he is making his own party and inshah allah it will bring positive changes in Pakistan. At that time when he broken the constitution the all parties were standing with Sir, musharraf and as far as chief justice concerned he was accused in corruption,and the other thing why was he took oath of PCO under the Sir, Musharraf's obligation ? a big question mark?he is still nondurable in Pakistan and foreign, his all initiative which he had took were going into the Pakistan's favor and for its people, and right now there is desperately need musharraf to Pakistan

Junaid | 14 years ago | Reply Brave court we salute u, u r the last beam of light for the people of pakistan. Proud on u

Malik Tabeer | 14 years ago | Reply He is real patriotic and will back to face all that charges Inshallah and nation will stand with him Inshallah these court should concentrate on millions cases are pending of Pakistani people

Thinking | 14 years ago | Reply I don't pay my taxes so that these judges get tax-exempt salaries and then squander their time on petty matters. Shame on them on even accepting such trivial and unproductive cases while hundreds and thousands of people are languishing in jails without fair trial. Shame on you Chief Justice. Shame on you High Courts. Shame on you, democracy and the mentally-deficient, morally-decadent, worthless opinions it supports.

Rakesh | 14 years ago | Reply @Shahryar: If he is innocent, why doesn't he appear before the court and clear his name? According to the news story above, he was served notices to appear which were ignored.

kanwal jahan | 14 years ago | Reply this is the reason of our country failure that we don't have right people to support great leaders although we have many to support corrupt government.. CJP has never give orders to arrest those whose making bad reputation of nation and doesnt even feel any shame in it

Amir | 14 years ago | Reply The problem is that everyone is scared of him.

Fahd Ali Raza | 14 years ago | Reply Hm. . . lets see what happens next. My guess is this verdict will be overturned.

Jalal | 14 years ago | Reply Pakistan never had a leader like Musharaff. He did the best for the country. Floods had not been as devastating, if our so-called democratic politicians would not have resisted Musharaf's will to make the Kalabagh Dam. Shame on you so-called politicians. What they did with the people of Pakistan must happen with their families so that they could understand the pain of victims.

RZ | 14 years ago | Reply I wonder on whose payroll was Maulvi Iqbal working?

imran | 14 years ago | Reply Musharraf doesnt deserve any mercy,he has landed this country in such state of affairs that we see blood on the streets everyday.Any one affected knows the pain of his policies.To top it all his NRO has brought in complete destruction to the state machinery

Yousaf | 14 years ago | Reply sooner or later he will be in Pakistan and will face all of the false allegations against him. He is man of higest caliberm, none of the member of present government can reach Musharraf's approach or thinking. His way to rule and administration was far behind good than that of so called democratic government.

Hassan | 14 years ago | Reply We should stand by the courts..

KM | 14 years ago | Reply @ Shahryar ... if you must know that a true patriot is the first one to present himself for accountability, an uncorrupt man is the first one to present what he possesses and what he doesnt, and finally a true leader is the first one to take a bullet on his head. Unfortunately, sitting in the presidency, guarded with the best of security and then saying that you did all for the benefit of the nation, while the nation sulks to it lowest ebb, is hypocricy in the name of leadership.

Tanzeel | 14 years ago | Reply "Brave Courts" should come up with the verdict, not mere name-calling.

Shahryar Ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply Shame on us all. A true patriot and un corrputable man is vielified by this biased judicial system. Thank you CJP & media for all this. At times i wonder, is the judicary on the payrol of the Ittefaq Group? I would not be supprissed if that's the case. All hail democracy!!!!

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