Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: AFP
LAHORE: Former president Pervez Musharraf will be ready to face any court if newly elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif supports a high treason case against him, said the former dictator’s political advisor on Wednesday.
“Musharraf is ready to face any court in order to defend himself against the politically motivated cases... [and] a Pakistani soldier never feels threatened by anyone,” said Chauhdry Sarfraz Anjum Kahlon of Musharraf’s party All Pakistan Muslim League (APML).
Speaking to the media, Kahlon cautioned the incoming government “to exercise political maturity and to think twice before pursuing the emotional path of personal revenge which would ultimately benefit Pakistan’s adversaries”.
He added that the pursuit of politically motivated cases will only serve to set off a dangerous chain of events which has the potential to weaken national institutions and is not in the best interest of the country.
Kahlon also refuted media reports about Musharraf leaving the country. “There is no exit strategy or secret deal to leave the country... [and] Musharraf will continue to reside in the country he has fought for,” he stated.
“Musharraf dedicated his life to the state of Pakistan the day he joined the armed forces and he has every right as a Pakistan citizen to live with his people,” Kahlon added.
COMMENTS (69)
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@SSH: Are you suggesting that Nawaz & Zardari are worthy of murdering? What a logic!
@Samir: Bugti was not a hero nor he was a national leader....he was just a SERDAR fighting to keep his grip on the BUGTI TRIBE and also killed many innocent Balochis who raised their head against his rule. SO PLEASE STOP PORTRAYING HIM AS SAINT OR INNOCENT PERSON...HE WAS AS CORRUPT AND MANIPULATOR AS NAWAZ SHARIF AND ZARDARI.
What a joke. His old cronies are in PPP or mostly now in PML N and enjoying almost the same ministries like Law Etc. and now clamouring for his trial.What a shame?@HK:
Musharraf to face high drama case. ( not high treason). Ours is a melodrama nation, when one drama finishes, another has to begin. How else do we keep ourselves entertained. How else will our news media flourish??. there are no good stage shows, no concerts, rubbish television programmes, so just look at this as Shakespeare did, the world is a stage, and we are all actors, on this stage, Musharraf is the main actor ( as usual ) the others are just here and there people, putting up the lights, fixing the back drops etc. Why take things so seriously, specially when we are concerned, dont we know ourselves well enough even after 65 years???.
What a courageous man salute his bravery and courage. Allah is with you sir. You will come out of this crisis clean and will lead us once again to prosperity. He's still our President!
Is this case about Musharraf or about the people who wish to try him. In a nation where in politics people have no morals, no ethics, no priciples, what and who is really on trial, Musharaff or our culture, our values, our principles. When in power people fall head over heals to please, when not in power they simple dump. It has allways been this way and perhaps allways will be. When all the publicity has died down, this case is going to fizzle into thin air.
@Muneer: wonderful muneer excellent details of the case and thanks to ET for printing ,
@Reason: thankyou , ask brothers of TTP i mean PTI , if they can get qouta system removed from sindh , or if it is so very beneficial for underdeveloped areas , we can have it implemented in lahore , quetta and peshawar. Just a news item in punjab assembly out of 66 women seat 33 gone to lahore in the feaderal cabinet , out of 10 ministers 6 are from lahore , so lahore rules Pakistan lets enjoy
@Rex Minor: A soldier is supposed to accept responsibility of his actions and be ready to face and die for it. This is what exactly Musharraf is doing.
@Rizwan Ali:
If you are with him, then tell him how a soldier lives and a soldier dies in his situation. Rommel was a great General and ie as a soldier. He needs not disgrace the military!! Now let me watch the talk show about the German Drones, the program which is now in Question.
Rex Minor
Best leader we ever had; only leader we have had in last 50 years; and he's going to stand such an absurd trial? Crime being? Saving the country from being declared a bankrupt failed state when the politicians were thrown out in 99. What a travesty! There is truly no hope for Pakistan.
@rafi: Well he did let, sunshine and rainbow TTP grow and finally they ended up discovering their true brothers "PTI". Leave MQM alone, it is a minority, lets discuss your Taliban Bhai log now. I wonder how every conversation ends up with this drama, well muhajirs will stop calling themselves muhajirs when you idiots stop discriminating.
salute you general musharraf. you did what we could not--death of pakistan by a thousand cuts. without you it was hard to see militants reach swat and then just 90 kms away from pakistan's capital. if anybody has really deserved param vir chakra( highest indian military award), thats you. jai hind, jai general musharraf.
@Sanam: Contemptible thought.
Its a bold decision. We salute president Mushrraf, Its not trial of Musharraf but the trial of Nawaz Sharif and other socalled democrats who,when in out of power corridors, made tall claims to try him under article six. Lets see who goes to bell the cat. Now thier ordeal has begun.SM ZAKI
@naeem khan Manhattan,Ks: 1.Consider following examples of high treason and violation of the law and constititution: a.Ordering an attack on the SC and ceasing of foriegn currency accounts by Nawaz Sharif. b.Compromising Pakistan National Interest by scumbing to USA and Indian pressure by vacating Kargil. c.Akbar Bugti took up arms against Pakistan and was carrying out insurgency against the country but judges and politicians are bent upon making him a hero. d.The 'terrorists' of Lal Masjid who openly challenged the writ of the government are being declared innocent by Commission of the SC and some politicians. e.All politicians are openly in favour of talks with TTP who do not recognise the constitution of Pakistan and are against it. They are waging war against the country,yet judiciary and politicians are in favour of talks instead of initiating high treason case. d.When reference was sent against CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry by Musharraf,it was not decided upon by the SJC,instead in sheer violation of the constitution the SC under Justice Ramday heard it. 2.Musharraf did not violate the constitution in November 2007, he imposed 'Emergency as per the law invogue,to save the state and the constitution.It is because of that 'Emergency', and subsequent elections that Pakistan today is a functional democracy,inspite of running a parallel government by the Courts and rigging of elections in violation of the constitution.
As if he had a choice!!!
@Salman Saleem:
He is reffering to what Mian Sahib has said that he (NS) invoke article 6 against Musharraf. The court seems to be too eager and ask NS to invoke article 6.
Musharraf was the only person who was disqualified to stand in elections held in May. All fake degree holders, corrupt politicians and criminals were allowed by higher judiciary to contest elections. What is outrageous that some of them were convicted by courts in different crimes. Mush has yet to be convicted even by the courts which are all in the vengeance mode against him.
I have read some comments which says trial should be done as he violated law / constitution of Pakistan. I totally agree with this but the trial should be FAIR!! Trial should start from October 1999 and not from November 3rd act. Trial should also include Judges including CJP as well because he took oath from Musharaff and allowed him to amend the consitution and stay in power for as Cheif Executive for Three Years!!! Unfortunately this is not a FREE Judiciary of Pakistan infact this is the EVER BIASED judiciary in the history of Pakistan. This judiciary has not even properly closed the case with proper decision of any terrorist infact they are the one who cleared them from all the crimes they have commited!!
I pray to Almight that CJP should not get extension you will hear about the cases of people who are against PML-N!
ET please publish these comments. Thanks
The fans of Musharaf are working hard to prepare him for ultimate sacrifice for democracy in Pakistan. He committed a hideous crime by overthrowing an elected government and establishing a dictatorial regime. {f he gets himself hanged or receive a life imprisonment for his own follies or that of his followers, a small reparation will be paid and the system of democracy strengthened.
Muhajirs getting persecuted again?
Great Man of pakistan History, he should face treason charges to expose the independant judiciary and nawaz Mafia. I am glade , there is no single case of corruption against him, even though he ruled for 8-9 years. In Pakstan peoples becomes billionaire in 3-6 months of power. Salute to him, Inshallah , Allah will protect him from all evils.
Bravo. Who cares about law in Pakistan. Break the Constitution again!
Musharraf is a good man and will remain so in the hearts and minds of those Pakistanis who are above provincialism. He is someone who was a patriot through and through as a young Army officer, as the CoAS and then as the President of Pakistan. May God bless you always Gen Musharraf!
@rafi: Why don't you follow your own advice and get a life? Using your stupid logic, I can state the same about PML-N and PTI allowing TTP to continue their reign of terror! Why single out Musharraf and MQM when the ruling party in the center and in the KP now has turned a deaf ear towards the Taliban carnage for the better part of past 5 years.
Why people are so hung up on Musharraf, if he has violated the constitution ( if any Pakistani cares to care), then he should face the law. It does not matter who the person is and how powerful they are, they violate the laws of the land then they should face the law and justice should be done. It is so unfortunate that Pakistan is considered the most lawless country in the world. I see most of the comments above saying that how great a job he done for the country, to me that is not the issue, if a murderer could do lots of charity work for humanity so should he be forgiven taking some one life, I think not. If Musharraf wanted to become a President then he should have waited for 2years after his retirement and then jump in politics, it is possible he could have been elected. But no these Bonaparte's can't wait and want to take over with the barrel of gun. I say you people either respect the law and constitution or you don't, then say it openly so we could understand where you people are coming from, It is as simple as that. Personally I am a law abiding citizen and respect the constitution of Pakistan as well the country I live in .
Go Musharraf Go... You made our homeland Pakistan into Dronistan.
@rafi: Just like PML-N has given free hand to terrorists like Lashkar e-Jhangvi.
To me Musarraf is the only keader in Pakistan who holds the key for the progress of the country ., the new govt . can use him as a greate asset for solving the crucial issues related to Kashmir and Afghanistan .
All what I can say is, My family financial conditions were much better in Musharaf era ... Shame on those people who took advantage of Musharaf when he was in power and now they are not even ready to stand beside him.
As a nation, we still hav'nt grown up. We are far too immature, too emotional, too naive, too simple. Consider how much time, money, effort, paper work (most importantly, precious lives) have gone down the drain by our "leaders" who have put their predecessors on trial for some misdeed or the other. The world has gone ahead, and we as a nation are simple stuck in our convolted mindset, whether it is Musharraf, religion, terrorism, sectarism, a nation such as ours can never progress, one step forewards and two backwards, that is essentially Pakistan's, past, present and future. Wish there could be some light at the end of tunnel, but there never will be in our case.
@Bhai Log: true they are all back that is the only trial against him
Great Leader!
@Sadaqat: thank you sadaqat will do the same
@HK: Can you explain what did he sow???
Guys guys guys this man put judges under house arrest, imprisoned elected PM. What message do we want to send to other men in uniform. If he gets away then I am afraid wrong precedence will be set. Not to mention how baloch brothers will feel about prosecuting bugti's murdurer.
Musharraf tookover when Pakistan was failing and put the country on the path of prosperity. and now the revegeful looters want to punish him because of his sincerity and love for the country. Ishallah the great soldier will continue to fight for the country till country is freed from looters.
Great leader... We salute his courage and abilities..
He should be punished as no one is above Law. specially for November the 3rd. He miss-used the power he snatched from democrats. Sold Pakistan in the hands of America, made agreement with Usa which allowed them to use drone over our soil which he officially accepted now. He should face fair trial in courts. Govt. must pursue this case.
We are with you.
All comments praising Mush are planted by his cronies! He did no good and wasted 9 years. He double-crossed friends on all sides-America, Taliban, Al Qaeda! He deprived Pakistanis of their fundamental rights! He didn't protect Benazir! So let him face all charges and enjoy a few years in prison.
@PakArmySoldier: and allowed terrorist organizations like mqm to kill innocents because he is one of them, get a life dude,
Let the trial begin. And let all hidden dirty secrets and file come out. Am sure non of the political leaders would want to touch this, as military will reveal their secrets :)
@Nahmed: Yes he has committed a mistake for not hanging all the corrupt politicians after his coup.
Musharraf being persecuted for not being a Punjabi.
He fought for Pakistan. He took charge of Pakistan in perhaps the most turbulent era of its history. He taught us how to feel pride in being Pakistanis. He delivered economic growth, created millions of jobs and helped millions more to get out of the trap of poverty. What's more he ditched IMF program which stifled development in the country. He deserves to be treated better.
what does the title means?? Musharraf 'Ready' for the treason case ?! Its not a matter of Musharraf being ready or not, he has to face the consequences of what he sowed during his time and his cronies should stop threatening democratically elected members by giving such statements.
Musharraf stands tall!!
Proud of your Sir General Pervez Musharaf
Although he has done some mistakes but still he is far better than the civilian lot who governed this country from 1947 and looted not only the natural resources of Pakistan but did not spare poor class from this loot. God bless you, my leader.
Mush for President!
we Pakistani's have never done good with our leaders, list is so long starting from Quaid-e-Azam to Musharraf. But Musharraf is a soldier, no matter what the outcome of current ambience, we are with Musharraf, true Pakistani's are proud of you sir........
No Matter whats going to happen to President Musharraf, the respect what he has ear will always be in my heart. I will make sure to transfer this history to my children that there was one great leader which pakistan got and then lost.
I salute you and your duty sir.
Let the trail begin according to law
Gen Musharraf is a brave man he came back Pakistan when his opponents are in government. Now judiciary is independent Nawaz Sharif has taken oath as PM by the support of 75% voters. What is in his way to initiate treason case. But nation believe Nawaz Sharif will never never never initiate any kind of legal procedings against Gen Musharraf as the Master of both is same.
Musharraf will be hero of nation soon.
Yes, that's right. Let us prosecute a man who delivered GDP growth, improved HDI across the provinces, and afforded more rights to women and minorities. How dare he allowed Pakistan to economically prosper!
A True leader.
Respect for the bravest Commando! P.S i can smell some fragrance of dictatorship.
This man made a mockery of the State of Pakistan and of the fundamental rights of the People of Pakistan, for at least 8 years. He MUST pay the price for this
Not a single case has been registered against Pervez Musharraf by PML-N. He is facing the trials for his own deeds. He can prove his innocence in the court of law.
Not a single case has been registered against Pervez Musharraf by PML-N. He is facing the trials for his own deeds. He should prove his innocence in the court of law.
Bravo Musharraf, WE ARE WITH YOU
Catch-22 For Mian Sb