The lawmakers held the interim administration responsible for not arresting Musharraf from the court premises following the cancellation of his protective bail on Thursday. PHOTO: REUTERS
The upper house of Parliament passed a resolution on Friday, calling for former army chief Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf to be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution for abrogating the Constitution and derailing democracy.
The house passed the resolution which was moved by Opposition Leader Senator Ishaq Dar and approved by PPP Senators Raza Rabbani and Farhatullah Babar. PML-Q and MQM lawmakers neither endorsed nor opposed the move.
The resolution calls upon the interim government to implement the court orders and implement the January 23, 2012 resolution of the Senate, which also demanded the former dictator be tried for treason under Article 6 of the Constitution. Friday’s resolution calls for the removal of Musharraf’s photos from all public buildings.
The lawmakers held the interim administration responsible for not arresting Musharraf from the court premises following the cancellation of his protective bail on Thursday.
The house later prorogued, but senators from PPP, ANP and PML-N submitted a fresh request to the chairman office for re-summoning the house shortly.
The senators also reacted to the ‘lax attitude’ of caretaker ministers, particularly the interior minister, Habib Malik, who later apologised for his absence from the house, saying he had other important engagements to attend.
He informed the Senate that Musharraf was in police custody and his house has been declared as sub-jail. The senators, however, disregarded Malik’s excuses calling them mockery of the house.
Senator Raza Rabbani described the adoption of the resolution a ‘historic moment’. “Today, all parties are on the same page and seek Musharraf’s trial under constitutional provisions,” he said.
Senator Rabbani described Musharraf’s ‘flight’ from the court as his disregard for the judiciary and said it showed the caretaker government’s inability to arrest him.
ANP Senator Zahid Khan questioned why Musharraf was not arrested on the court’s order. “This is an [act of] injustice to declare Musharraf’s farm house a sub-jail, where all kinds of facilities are available,” Zahid said. “The law should be equal for all,” he added.
PPP Senator Farhatullah Baber also asked who decided to declare Musharraf’s farmhouse a sub-jail. “Is it a decision of the interim government or some other forces?”
He said Musharraf had claimed that he was not afraid of jail, but on Thursday the world saw that the ‘self-proclaimed president’ humiliated the offices he held in the past.
PML-N Senator Zafar Ali Shah said Musharraf’s name was on the Exit Control List – but he could be airlifted out of the country by some forces.
On a separate issue, the house termed a meeting of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) ‘illegal and unlawful’, as the caretaker government was not mandated to convene a session of the body.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2013.
COMMENTS (14)
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Try Parliment and Judiciary for legalising his actions. All should be hanged together.
MQM and PMLQ should have taken a position too.Either for or against.Abstaiaing is hypocritcial and effort to eat and keep the cake at the same time.You were the main stay of Mush power grab and should either stay with him or apologize to the nation for your support to the dictator. But Iam afraid that when and if Mush will be out of the woods and politicllay looks good, these guys will stand with him again.This type of selfish politrics must stop.
@samonrusty, first try to understand your constitution. Robbing and murder is not same crimes. corrup politicians do not violate the fundamental rights of the people. Dictators violate the fundamental right of the people. Musharaf should face judiciary and should be punished. An Army general has no business ruling over peoples rights and trampling over there wishes. Army generals are not Kings/emperors.
@samonrusty: 'Mush is an honest guy. Give him credit for that. He violated the constitution. True.' There are many in Pakistan like you who are disillusioned with corruption and misrule do not want any action to be taken against him but instead want him back to rule the country again. This is wishful thinking which may not happen anytime in future as he is facing serious charges of treason, murders and the former charge is not difficult to prove. The fact of the matter is that there has never been true democracy in Pakistan for the past six decades which was either sabotaged or adversely influenced by the military and the same did not allow the civilian rulers to function independently for welfare of the country. Why go far, take the example of India who is also suffering from huge corruption at high places has made tremendous economic progress as compared to Pakistan because there was no interference from its military and focus was made on the economy rather than focusing on disproportionate military spending, exporting terrorism etc. The time of reckoning has come for Pakistan as this trial and ultimate conviction of a former dictator would hopefully lead to smooth functioning of future civilian govts in Islamabad who would be able to function independently without any pressure of being toppled and take some bold decisions in internal and foreign affairs matters to bring peace and progress in Pakistan.
The way he likes Pakistan, you people should respect him.
Most crimes like bribes, corruption, theft and even physical fights are not crimes that carry death penalty. In fact they do not carry more than a few month or years term. High treason is the worst crime against the state and people and carry death penalty. Let us not lose sense of proportionality and ignore multiple acts of high treason. Everybody should have their day in court and generals should not be an exception.
@samonrusty: What honest guy takes guns and takes over his own nation's capital. Imagine a General in any Western nation doing that and what his punishment would be. If generals are above the law and can take over whenever they want, why should the Taleban not be allowed to take over with guns? Illegal take overs need to punished in order for democracy to take root; This is why Musharraf needs to be tried for treason.
@samonrusty: You are contradicting yourself. What you are saying is like saying that a guy is honest but he performs robberies because there are so many other robbers in town. Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
The entire senate should be tried for treason as well as the lal masjid and the terrorist lawyers and judges that allow terrorist to walk free...
I hope Pakistan's governmental system -- whatever kind it is -- makes such a horrible example out of this thug that no general will ever dare subvert the constitution in the so-called supreme national interest and none of his subordinates will help him do so. Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Mush is an honest guy. Give him credit for that. He violated the constitution. True.
Don't these corrupt politicians violate the constitution by destroying the country.
Deomcracy -1 vs Dictatorships - 5
When justice is done for all then all senate should also be tried for not impeaching current president despite SC court orders of writing to swiss casse.
Musharaf's and his "Rofaqas" real crimes were deposing elected government, derailing democracy and abrogating constitution. Where are his "Rofaqas" hiding now who planned and executed those crimes. They should come out of their holes to face justice.