File photo of former President General (retd) Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: AFP/ FILE
Fearing Pervez Musharraf being given a ‘safe exit’ from Pakistan, son of deputy cleric of Lal Masjid Abdur Rashid Ghazi is seeking a murder case against the former president and approached Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday.
Haroon Rashid Ghazi filed the application through his counsel Advocate Tariq Asad for registration of First Information Report against Musharraf for killing his father Abdul Rashid Ghazi and his grandmother Sahib Khatoon.
“If Musharraf is allowed to leave the country, I will never be able to get justice for the killing of my father and my grandmother,” Haroon Ghazi added.
The complainant has maintained in his application that electronic and print media have been reporting that arrangements were being made to let Pervez Musharraf leave the country before the new government takes oath, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 28th, 2013.
COMMENTS (43)
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@Khair Khaw: You cannot call those who take up arms against the police or military petulant children. My children would NEVER do that. Just look at any news from any respectable country and see how they dealt with those who shot at the innocent, police or the military and then tell me if they were treated as petulant children or dangerous criminals. Moreover, the ones that were killed chose to fight the military when they clearly were given a lot of time to surrender and face the courts. They were NOT children, they were trained militants. What business did they have arming themselves inside a mosque? Does your mosque do that? Wake up to reality, sir!
Atal Bihari Bajpeyee is still alive , He is the person who personally talked to almost all important leaders of Pakistan to solve the Kashmir issue accross tne table . All of them assured him to do so but continued to celebrate Kashmir solidarity day accross the country . It was only Musarraf who left the talk in the middle and gone back home to give last chance to terrorists for this purpose in Kargil war . There after he has broken the back bone of terrorism through lal masjid operation and paved the way of democracy in the country . He laid down path way to find the solution of an intricate issue which can not be solved through arm struggle . Kashmir solidarity day and Atom bomb day are in fact bogus day for Pakistan . Musarraf has realized it better than any other leader in Pakistan .
@Khair Khaw: Grow up!
@Khair Khaw: Question: what is the punishment for mutiny?? Answer: punished with death
Its so straight and simple!
Thank you Pres. Musharraf for clearing up that masjid. It was truly a good service. For me, you were the best this country has seen. Unfortunately, your side kicks let you down. I pray for your success.
@R.We.Free: State controlled. I think your still living in the PTV era!!
What is interesting to note is that when all these members of lal masjid were freely roaming Islamabad streets extorting their will, the MEDIA was screaming what is the government doing. Where is the government writ. Action should be taken.
And when Mush govt took action, after trying to convince the clerics to come to senses, MEDIA screamed foul. What tragedy, death, eetc.
Gen. Musharraf took a bold decision, and the right one.
Musharraf is great threat to Taliban, they will never allow him to come into power... otherwise he will uproot them without any hesitation..
Since nothing can be done against Musarraf by judiciary or Govt. therefore all fundamentalist forces in the country are encouraging terrorists to attack on him or put pressure on him so that he can leave the country but Musarraf is Musarraf ,he knows how to die .He still commamds respect of the professional army of the country .This army is now commited to save the country from terrorits .The army has filtered out tetrorist supporters in Kargil war and challenged the terrorists in Lal masjid operation . Army now wants the solution of Kashmir issue at the earliest so that western border and the sovereignity and integrity of the country can be ensured and a prosperous Pakistan can be realized .
@Khair Khaw:
You have a twisted mind khair khaw. The talibans have the same twisted minds and nothing good go into their brains. It is useless to educate you or the talibans. You cannot change, and it is good for the society to remove the cancer from the body.
@Khair Khaw:
Well what you going to do if someone wish death. They got what they wanted. Those who believe in discipline they get out and went home.
@Sohraab:
Mark my words, judiciary is also included with the media and you will see that the petition file by Ghazi's son will be accepted to proceed.
@Khair Khaw Agree with you, the other commenters who blame the occupants of Lal Masjid obviously do not know how a state operates. History has shown time and time again, that any state can conduct an operation and the details of which the public are not made fully aware of. These are the tactics employed by the state machinery. We only hear what the state controlled media wants us to believe. If all of us really experienced uncensored journalism, the world today would be a totally different society.
P.S. Pls publish my comment, thanks
@Khair Khaw: Musharraf is a crook who violated the sanctity of the constitution. But the people who used Lal Mosque to establish a den of terrorism were crooks, too. For one, they occupied a piece of land where they set up the so-called Jamia Hafsa. They were nothing but thieves and criminals. Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
@Khair Khaw:
both 1999 and 2007 actions were validated and provided cover by SC.
The amount of weapons in the Masjid were stacked for what. Are these going to be used after pizza party or going to be used against the state. Mush did the what he is suppose to to. Last, there is no reason this Masjid should be in the middle of the city.
@ Khair Khaw I dont know what world you live in but President Musharraf saved this country when it was a failed state in 1999 approaching bankruptcy. Its another matter that those blinded by ethnic hatred and/or unrealistic liberal ideas choose to ignore his accomplishments. Look at the destruction over the last 6 years if you dont believe me.
You know there is genuinely no hope when the son of a terrorist is calling for the blood of the greatest leader we've had in decades.
@Khair Khaw: Bhai. The burqa clad ladies and gentlemen (don't forget that bit) were going around terrorizing the people of Aabpara and they were pushing for their rules which went counter to those laid down by the Government of Pakistan. Also, they were well armed for confrontation. Anywhere in the world, even in Saudia, if a citizen picks up weapons against the sate, he is in for a lot of trouble and the outcome is usually straightforward imposition of the death penalty.
@khair khaw Its refreshing to find a moderate, sane & reasonable person in the comment section. Extremes on both sides need this moderation
@Ali: Having ammunition was illegal and they were not innocent but their "crimes" do not call for murder, period.
@KRS: Reactive political violence has increased as a consequence to the Lal Masjid operation. So how could it be a wise move?
@Khair Khaw: You think they were innocent?? Having amunation in such a huge quantity in MASJID is permissible? For your info, they had weapons of different kinds which make them fight with Pakistan's elite forces for about 4 days ... this means they were real trained professionals and you call them innocent? strange!!! Giving one month time to surrender was more than enough ... just see these days what TTP is doing .... ask for peace talks and at the back they try to arrange themselves in small groups across the country!!! In my opinion no mercy for these people !!! They are the one who kills innocent people be in whether they are in masjid, imambargah, muharam procession, eid-e-millad procesion, and the list goes on and on.......... I hope now supreme court and CJP should also act smartly and should perform his duties in true spirit!!
Abdul Rashid Ghazi even gave fatwa against army fighting terrorist in tribal area and in swat
"Its so funny people like you going back and forth as each one your little detail in your story of the innocent mulla gets torn to pieces" I never said that the Lal Masjid occupants were innocents. Please do not infer that which I did not imply. "..preventing the poison from spreading…" The Lal Masjid operation was indeed a cause that led to the spreading of the "poison."
@MJ: "How about you arrange for yourself a trip to Waziristan and try to discipline the rebellious innocent kids know as Talibans. Good Luck and Bon Voyage." You are comparing an individual with no governmental power with Musharraf who had absolute power. The comparison is not fair. Need I say more?
@Sohraab: "..by your so called enlightened Imams" They were not my Imams, I am only concerned as regards crime against humanity. They could have been followers of any religion but since they were human they should have been treated humanely. To convince your opponents of your view point is real victory, to kill them is a pyrrhic victory. Their siege coupled with negotiations was beginning to yield results but Musharraf wanted to teach them a lesson, and he was using negotiations only as a ruse It is easy to kill then to reform. Negative power is easier than positive power, with all the power at his command, Musharraf failed to use his overwhelming power positively. " ...NOBODY is allowed to challenge the State’s Writ!" Who allowed Musharraf to challenge the writ of the State as he overturned a Constitutional Government in 1999? Who allowed him to suspend the Constitution in 2007 and to subvert the State? Musharraf was as bad if not worse in challenging the writ of the State. Please avoid double standards.
@Khair Khaw "You discipline your children if they become rebellious, you don’t kill them." How about you arrange for yourself a trip to Waziristan and try to discipline the rebellious innocent kids know as Talibans. Good Luck and Bon Voyage.
@Khair Khaw: Its so funny people like you going back and forth as each one your little detail in your story of the innocent mulla gets torn to pieces....There is no place for people like the ones in Lal Masjid Period...you know what you do when the gangerine happens...you chop off to save the rest of the body and preventing the poison from spreading...consider laal masjid and its followers that infested leg....yuo simply cant punish people have are mentally sick and like to play God...period!
Zia's Islam brought us all here today.
Killing a evil person (with beard) all of a sudden has become crime. What about the innocents across the Pakistan being blown-up by mudrasah educated lil viles?
Worst part is, segment of our society still chooses to believe these beared men are fighting for Islam.
One should be able to differentiate between Muslim and Terrorist.
@Zee: The ones left behind were behaving like petulant children. You discipline your children if they become rebellious, you don't kill them.
@Khair Khaw:
Stop your excuses and accept the fact that LAL MAJID was turned into TERRORIST'S SAFE HEAVEN by your so called enlightened Imams. Musharraf did the right thing by eliminating them as NOBODY is allowed to challenge the State's Writ!
We, The Pakistanis, are so very thankful to Musharraf for clearing this Lal Masjid of the Terrorists. I am really surprised to read such Absurd articles in which some "Clerics" and their "sons" still, get the media space and attention.
@Khair Khaw: Terrorists who resort to kidnapping, looting, plundering, and killing government personnel are dealt with lethally - that is how strong governments proceed internationally. That's how the Waco militants were dealth with in the USA, the difference is in the US no once complained afterwards. Moreover all the innocents were already out of the masjid and the ones who were left had decided to fight against the Pak government, and they paid the price. Their demand was safe passage or death. They got their wish
@siddiqui: "this all started when a cute little baby mulla sniper while playing with his toy gun mistakenly shot an officer " Was killing more than a hundred in response an equalizer. What about Musharraf being an usurper of power in the first place and (mullah's have nothing to do with Musharraf's abrogation of the Constitution not once but twice, especially in 2007?) @Hassan "Mush gave them 1 month time to surrender. They did not. Then first fire came from inside and killed a security force person." Why could the time to surrender not be enhanced as peace brokers were saying that the inmates were becoming inclined to surrender. Anyway, cold blooded murders are not justifiable and just forcible seclusion of the inmates of Lal Masjid would have been successful but Musharraf had only used negotiations to sound reasonable, he was decided about a military action anyway.
@Khair Khaw
Please refresh your memory of sequence of events that happened at that time by watching the news items again. Mush gave them 1 month time to surrender. They did not. Then first fire came from inside and killed a security force person. At that time all the media was reporting why mush isn't taking action.
Why was Abdul Rashid inside a mosque with all the weapons. Why didn't he surrender after repeated calls. If that action was not taken i bet every other mosque in islamabad would have had the same sick person as Abdul Rashid.
Murder? It wasn't murder. It was the removal of terrorist infestation. A great thing done by President Musharraf.
Musarraf is still an asset to Pakistan and he is determined to serve his people . All cases against him are baseless .
I agree that was one of his few good deeds in an otherwise very poor reign. The English press was full of laudatory letters.
@Khuldun: The Lal Masjid occupants did not kill anyone and did not commit any "terror." Therefore, it is unjustified to label them "terrorists." They were guilty of defying the writ of the State much as Musharraf was when he overturned the Constitutional Government in 1999. The Government had the right to replace Musharraf and that could not be a basis for justifying a coup. If a plea is taken that the Musharraf had the right to dismiss the Government because it was not performing well, the same argument can be used against Musharraf's rule. But even then, in 2007, during his absolute rule, he overturned the Constitution and subverted the State and its institutions and as such, once again, committed acts of high treason for which he must be brought to justice. The Lal Masjid occupants, to be fair, could be tried for resisting the writ of the Government of the day. However, that they were killed in cold blood, inhumanely with, among other weapons, possibly with the use of chemical weapons and napalm bombs to reduce them to ashes to hide the real number of occupants killed, it might be justified to try Musharraf for crimes against humanity.
Its all due to these Ghazis and Shaheeds ideology, which bring Pakistan in verge of collapse.
One of the few good things Mush did.
How and why are we still entertaining terrorists?