Rashid Qureshi hopes military ‘will come into action’.
ISLAMABAD:
Close associates of former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf have asked top military leadership to intervene in the issue immediately before tensions between state institutions get worse.
“Top military leadership will come into action [as an ex-general is being denied justice],” Major General (Retd) Rashid Qureshi, a close friend of the former president told The Express Tribune.
The Islamabad High Court on Thursday cancelled Musharraf’s bail application in the judges’ detention case and ordered his arrest. On Friday, the former president was transferred from his Chak Shahzad farmhouse to Islamabad Police Headquarters.
“Enough is enough. Judicial activism will not be tolerated anymore,” General Qureshi said, adding Musharraf will continue to face courts until he gets justice.
“We will fight legally, morally and politically against injustice in Pakistan.”
A movement has apparently started by some elements to degrade retired military generals as well as top spymasters, General Qureshi said.
He recalled that earlier this year in Dubai he had told Musharraf not to fly to Pakistan.
“The ground is not plain for you [Musharraf] to pursue political career,” General Qureshi told the former army chief.
A close aide of Musharraf said that the ex-president constantly received calls from some military leaders, both serving and retired, on Thursday.
“The situation shall hopefully improve by next week as Musharraf will get bail,” he said.
A senior official of Inter Services Public Relations, however, did not confirm the development.
“We have not received such request yet,” he said.
Furthermore, the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) has announced to kick off a peaceful movement against Musharraf’s arrest.
As the civilian government continues to humiliate Musharraf, we request the top military leadership to support him, said APML Additional Secretary General Chaudhry Shafiq. Senior leaders of APML will hold peaceful rallies across the country, with retired army officials and civil society activists raising their voice against the injustice that took place against Musharraf, he said.
Senior Counsel for Pervez Musharraf Ahmed Raza Kasuri said they may file another petition in the apex court against the inclusion of the 7-Anti Terrorism Act in the First Information Report against his client.
Even the court cannot order Musharraf’s arrest, Kasuri maintained.
Former President Musharraf made history by appearing before a civil court’s judge, he said, adding that a well-planned conspiracy is being hatched against APML to weaken the party in next general elections.
“All looters are allowed to contest elections—then why not Musharraf?” asked APML Spokesperson Dr Amjad.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2013.
COMMENTS (72)
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Inshallah Musharraf will be the winner at the end. he is honest true leader. Almighty allah Bless him
Mirza mia be on the ground realities . ?,
@ Mirza you again have to accept the fact that Musharraf did not surrender in Kargil war, it was Sharif who went to US and signed the withdrawal agreement. Accept the fact!
@rafi:
What about the justice? I see vendetta and not the justice is seen in all this drama. Why he is getting treated like a prisoner when he is not even convicted.? He is not even formally charged yet. Why the judiciary acting like a dictator?
@pervaiz memon:
What do you mean? I am not a party member or a supporter of Musharraf but I am raising my voice against as injustice. The man came on his own to get justice but the judiciary instead of giving justice it is showing vendetta. I was shocking to read the CJP Iftekhar Chowdhry saying Musharraf is here anyone dare to challenge him to trial. Is it a role of a chief justice to asking people to file a petition against somebody. Is it his duty to do that. Musharraf in not even convicted and the courts is treating as if he is prisoner. I appeal to the justice loving people to raise their voice also.
Everyone fails to remember the horrible treatment meted out to Begum Nusrat Bhutto during the trial of her late husband, PM Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. She was hit on the head at a cricket match by the police ordered by the higher authorities. She sustained serious head injuries and bore them with dignity. She was also sent to jail and was under house arrest. No one was even allowed to protest. General Musharraf is very lucky he is in his palatial farm house with his wife next door surrounded by loads of security, undeservingly, at whose expense? Anyone who has sympathy for them should go back into history and see how our leaders were punished and jailed. What is so special about this man who is wanted on two murder charges, no less of one of whom was a very respected politician who was going to change our destiny, the late Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto; and Mr. Bugti.
If army will intervene. more Generals will be behind bars in future like him!
Musharraf's indictment is more critical than anything else, to establish the supremacy of the constitution and the democracy. Lets end this concept of dictatorship for good and move forward.
@Ali: I agree with your first line 100%. "He did surrender after all. Accept the fact!" He has a good history of surrender after all. Kargil is the main example of that. Regards, M
No one is bigger than the country and No body should be above the law even an ex Army chief..He had broken the law of the land and he should face the music!
@ SHB
He did surrender after all. Accept the fact!
Regarding the amount you say he collected, there is no corruption case on him. He earned a lot from his international lectures earning $200,000 per lecture. Now you can convert it to Rs and count his delivered lectures to match with Rs 645 million.
Lastly, as you say that he ran from the court, it must not be forgotten that the judge who ordered Musharraf's arrest was the same who was advocate of Burka Molvi. This is revenge justice.
APMLs popularity will begin to increase as people are seeing the unfair treatment being meted out to a former president, a man who sacrificed so much of his reputation and worked day and night for 9 years. let the people decide but PM deserves a second shot.
Isn't the Major General's comments tantamount to sedition? In effect he is trying to get the army leadership to revolt against the government and judiciary. He shouldn't be crying then if tomorrow the SC decides to proceed against him for sedition. If we remember correctly, Musharraf had put Javed Hashmi in prison for years while accusing him of trying to foster revolt against army. Why shouldn't the same standard be applied against this tinpot of a general.
Remember Mush threw Hashmi in prison for the same charges that should be filed against this Gen Qureshi. Inciting armed forces to go against the sitting govt and courts is not a small crime and he should be tried for mutiny and treason.
@Tariq Jameel: I don't agree with communism or for that matter any political system which takes away the freedom of choice from me. Anyways, Musharraf symbolizes imperialism while Chavez and Castro symbolized socialism. Both Chavez and Castro are cool case studies but trust me we don't want Pakistan to be like Venezuela or Cuba.
Armed force is meant to defend our borders - it can't be allowed to run country. Article 6 will come into play if any one tries
@Aamir: correction
He was not a politician
@Ali: He is not what you wrote down. It is just perception in your mind. Please go and read about water gate scandal and why President Richard Nixon resigned. Check it on google.
Bhag Mushy Bhaag !! You are a trained commando. Climb the wall and run !!
@Ali: He did not surrender to the court. He ran away from the court. You should , please , accept the fact. Then he was forced to surrender when police officers met him at his residence.these are the facts. He is also not honest money wise. How did he collect Rs 645 million net worth Did he pay tax on this amount?please show me the evidence.
APML=Anti Pakistan Musharraf League
If army intervene then the next Long March and Dharna should be at GHQ where the real evil resides. We support Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary and SC.
Maj.Gen. Quereshi's comments were uncalled for n regretful, such words neither helpful nor timely. On the other side Judiciary n Judges needs to look within before becoming masiha's of all evil over night. Ex-President/Gen. Musharraf (Rtd) willingness to face courts n Justify his actions in the past, Judiciary, media, politicians n public should allow him with fair chance to speak his heart. If we don't allow someone to even speak n just try to impose our own will, how truth would come out. No institution should have the imagination being better the other that includes Judiciary, it has enough black dots on its own body/soul. Let alone majority lawyer community (vultures) involve in day light robberies, Judiciary needs to evaluate it's own setup before pushing other institutions into chaos. Please think about it.
I am with Musharraf because he is an honest and visionary leader. Inshallah Musharraf will emerge stronger after all this humiliation to him. Leader remains a leader while looters are looters. Someone in his above comments has truely said that nexus between looters, terrorists, judges and a few media personalities have seemeingly been developed..
@Omar J., Karachi: The poor guy Dr Amjad who said this didn't realize what he was saying. But it s so befitting.
Thanks A J Khan, I completely agree with you.
I am very surprised to read all the comments about PM, a former dictator who brought Pakistan to world top economies in just few years, how many people knows how many factories, business closed in last 5 years? Even country like Afghanistan considers us third world country ….. Are you proud of country who is ruled by bunch of corrupt people who’s only purpose is who eat this country and take it back to stone age. People open your eyes , even right now the TV Channels you are watching who are bashing him running only because of him ………How many you have jobs because of him ? If have uncle in politicians then you can find a job only. Please take a walk in each Industrial area of Karachi and see yourself.
A man who was an army chief and then a President for 8 years and known internationally must be having self-esteem, but still he surrendered to the judiciary knowing he would be humiliated. Musharraf is great, he is truly a patriotic person.
@Mozart: bet u don't have the same things to say for Chavez and Castro?
@rafi: Judiciary must not protect the colluding Judges and parliamentarians. If that is done and Musharraf is singled out, then there is every reason for the Armed Forces of Pakistan to restore justice.
Check all the tax returns of Mr Musharraf for the last fifteen yrs. Did he pay taxes on all the income? How his net worth reached Rs 645 million? Did he pay tax on all this money? How he built his palace at chuk Shahzad? To me he is corrupt like many other politicians unless proven otherwise.
Mr Qureshi should be prosecuted. He is instigating the Army. In the meantime, his assets should be checked and also verify his tax returns for the last fifteen yrs. Did he pay all the taxes? He is not above the law.
He should be booked for seeking help from Land grabbers and Property dealers in Constitutional matters.
NOW The CAMEL under the Mountain.
Despite that He is retired general ,but being a citizen of Pakistan justice should be equal for every one,I hope Army will stay aside and strengthen the supremacy of law.
Army is already losing.lot of its men in tribal areas. Do you want them to fight tribals as well as tribunal.at the same time.
The day when Pakistanis will stop showing tender feelings towards a dictator is the day when we will be called a civilized nation. The comments in favor of Musharraf show that we have a long way to go to become a civilized nation. A nation which still cannot figure out why dictatorship is bad and what it symbolizes deserves humiliation in the form of feudalism, dictators, thana (police station) culture and autocratic politicians.
This is becoming rather sad for ex-commando.
A strong nexus has developed between terrorists, some Judges and media. This network is intelligently using their position for the defamation,damage and destruction of Pakistan Army. While terrorists involved in murders of civilians and soldier walk free from these courts, media trumpet the story in a way that blame is put on the victims of terrorists. In Lal Masjid case dozens of soldiers of the armed forces were killed, yet court ordered payment to the terrorists. No one ever discussed how the soldiers died in the operation. This dangerous network has to be destroyed to get back peace.
Judiciary has crossed its limits. Its time to bring them back to their original place. So called judges are on nothing else but revenge policy. It will be a big crime hurting a leader who is honest and well wisher of Pakistani nation.
What we are seeing is vendetta not justice and in such a case when government, politicians and judiciary gang up on an honourable citizen then it becomes absolutely necessary for us the people not to allow such a farce in the name of justice. People of fair minds must demonstrate their disgust at this and unitedly demand a fair trial. Pakistan Army must intervene to rescue one of its trapped in by the gangsters of various hues and robes.
Throw the criminal politicians, judges, bureaucrats, out and rescue the true benefactor of Pakistan. Time for real men to step forward and be counted in saving Pakistan. We want to hear the sound of boots now before it is too late.
Those nations get destroyed who couldn't differentiate b/w leaders and looters.
If army intervenes Pakistan will not be same as we know it (1971),then we will different visa for Karachi,Lahore.Peshawar,Quetta,Gwadar.and Army knows it.(FIRST CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT TO COMPLETE FIVE YEAR IN SIXTY-FIVE YEAR WHOM WE ARE KIDDING)
@Syed: Its called a conflict of interests, and should have been raised BEFORE the hearing.
Maj Gen Quereshi statement that military should step in favour of their colleague is an interesting development in Pakistan. The military who has so far refrained itself in making any statement regarding Musharraf is clearly feeling the heat as it paves the way for prosecution of erring Generals which is unheard so far in the history of Pakistan. The conviction of the former General would also put the future Civilian govts on a higher pedestal against the military who had always dictated terms to any democratic elected govt on all major issues. According to Washington Post, the trial is taken as the clash between two major and powerful institutions, a formula is being worked by countries close to Pakistan to stop the trial and Musharraf given free passage to another country.
GOD Bless our Country and all of us.
This shows the mind set of the judiciary that they dont care "if the pendora box is open" they dont realize how much they are going to disgrace their own country, They will put the country's security at stake not that our SACRED DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL SYSTEM has done. WHERE IS THE SACRED JUDICIAL SYSTEM? Now I am wondering why people spend their lives and get ripped of everything to get justice!
The problem is that everyone doesnt understand the geopolitical apects of our country the way our armed forces understand. People dont understand how they damage their own Motherland. They have no sense of protecting the state secrets..
I think its time that there shoukd be some "awareness programes" to make people understand and learn how HOW to CRITICIZE the wrong doings of people.
Just sitting on media screens and feel good by howling, abusing and accusing everyone with no control on the language used is not going to work!
Some one has said that a bad democracy is better than dictator ship. When Z A Bhutto became unchecked ruler. Destroyed the pure land by his reforms and eliminating opponents. Pak Army took action and removed him for the betterment of the country. General promised to do election in 90 days.But change him mind after getting drunk with power. Finally some one took care of him . Than Army product Nawaz Shrief wanted to turn this country in to Islamic Emirate and wanted to become Khalif for life. Musharraf took care of him and saved the country. He also loved power, This is such a power once you taste will be hooked on. I am not fan of him, He created the judiciary he hand picked the judges and they were part of the dictatorship. They were his obedient servant. Every one was licking him. He took action against Lal Masjid, I blame him for taking a delay action. In the first place Mullahs power should have not reached to the stage where Government was loosing its rte. Old man Bugtti was a rabble you cannot have two rulers in one country. Should have stopped his Royalties and money should have distributed to people of Baluchistan and reforms. Every one knows who killed BB. Ask Zerdari her husband who ruled Pakistan for 5 years. I personally do not like Mush but I know he will not do any thing against Pakistan.
@Mohammad,
Very well said. Kiyani must act fast now otherwise he will face the doom? Musharaff did not come home on his own, he was SENT.
“All looters are allowed to contest elections—then why not Musharraf?” asked APML Spokesperson Dr Amjad. I recall one of the dialogues from "The pirates of the Caribbean" which goes like this: There are no heroes among pirates... Haan???
@Mohammad:
Are you senile? If institutions, the army in particular, stuck to their constitutional mandate, Pakistan would be much beter off today than it is. Learn the lesson, won't you?
“We will fight legally, morally and politically against injustice in Pakistan.” And what about the injustice done to ordinary Pakistanis and the Pakistani nation by Military dictators??
“Enough is enough. Judicial activism will not be tolerated anymore,” General Qureshi said, adding Musharraf will continue to face courts until he gets justice.
I don't recall this statement when 2 PPP PMs were called to court, and who went there without any hue or cry, unlike Musharraf who would sooner fire and arrest the entire higher judiciary than respect the law.
Rashid Qureshi should be tried for treason as well.
Musharaf was way better than any other poilticians
...er, remember America, are you with us or without? Musharf should have walked into Sunset.
The Major General by attributing motives to the judiciary is in clear contempt of court . In a country where the Army was not so dominant he would be behind bars .
Judiciary is biased against Musharraf. True to his party's slogan "Pakistan First", Musharraf served Pakistan unlike any political rulers, except Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.l One of his several great achievements was kicking off IMF. As said by one of the bloggers (Mr Syed), the IHC judge shaukat aziz siddiqui was council for lal masjid moullvi aziz so how can he be an impartial judge in Musharraf's trial.
APML...does it need to be called a party? Even we friends gather in more numbers to have a party.
After reading above comments one can easily reach conclusion that mush or APML has good paid IT team .
Biased Justice: IHC Judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui was council for Lal Masjid Molana Abdul Aziz.
APML in action.
@ Mirza
I totally agree with Mirza. But I suggest the Retd. MG Rashid Qureshi should also be arrested for obstructing and hindering the law. Probably, the people behind the curtain who were also involved in crimes in Mush's hay days are now afraid, the truth will come out since the Chief Justice of Supreme Court has commented that he won't mind if the Pandora box is opened.
It is an established fact that Pakistan had progressed during Military Regimes and not during the Democratically Elected Governments.
Army should back General Musharraf in the crises to keep the morale high of its soildiers.
When Kiyani can interfere to restore these corrupt judiciary, he should interfere for the delivery of proper justice.
All APML want to peruse the cases as per the constitution. If judges are not going to do that, APML has every right to look other institution of State.
Musharraf can move to international courts as well. This is now clear that Judges are not taking decision based on the Law but base don personal vendetta. It is truly judicial Martial Law.
"All looters are allowed to contest elections—then why not Musharraf?” asked APML Spokesperson Dr Amjad.
How appropriate - nice of Dr. Amjad to be so forthcoming about Musharraf.
Even Musharraf's spokesperson thinks Musharraf is a looter: “All looters are allowed to contest elections—then why not Musharraf?” asked APML Spokesperson Dr Amjad.
hope army intervenes and sets up military courts across pakistan
well said. “All looters are allowed to contest elections—then why not Musharraf?” asked APML Spokesperson Dr Amjad.
The cat is finally out of the bag. Once a dictator always a dictator. And he wanted to be democratically elected? Mush is a spent force like any other ex-dictator. The sooner he learns the better it is for him and the country. The sheer arrogance and ego is not going to help. Time to wake up and smell the coffee!
Army wouldn't intervene, their chief needs one more extension.
Is that Rashid Qureshi in the picture? I guess ET you have got it all wrong,