Former Law and Justice Minister Zahid Hamid has been reassigned to the science and technology ministry. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: In order to allow for a fair trial against former President General Pervez Musharraf, the government on Saturday shuffled its cabinet and reassigned Minister Zahid Hamid.
The reshuffle, just 15 days after the formation of the federal cabinet, was made apparently to pave the way for a fair trial against the military dictator pending before the top court of the country for abrogating the Constitution of 1973 twice.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government removed Hamid from the law ministry, following his request earlier. Hamid, though, has been retained as part of Nawaz’s cabinet after he was assigned the ministry of science and technology. A notification in this regard has also been issued.
Hamid was the law minister in former President Musharraf's cabinet when the dictator imposed emergency in the country on November 3, 2007. Over 60 judges of the superior courts were also allegedly detained in their houses.
Hamid had joined the PML-N after the 2008 general elections. During the 2013 elections, he was elected on a PML-N ticket.
Hamid’s actions were not entirely voluntary though. Earlier in the week, an appeal had been filed before the Supreme Court, asking the court to restrain Hamid from performing his duties as law and justice minister until the court decided cases seeking trial of ex-president Pervez Musharraf under Article 6 of the Constitution.
COMMENTS (30)
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It will be interesting to see how the Supreme Court defends its position of validating the military take over. SC did not only validate it but also allowed the military dictator to amend the constitution.The CJP was a signatory on the historic judgement. What will become of the generals who acted on ground while Musharraf was flying around in a diverted aircraft. If the doctrine of necessity was to be set aside, in that case all actions taken by the dictator will have to be set aside as well. Including the judgments passed by judges who took oath under the PCO. Musharraf knew of this complexity and that is the reason why he decided to come and stay. The judges will drag this case to a point when all the actors in the drama are dead and gone. Very interesting time ahead.
@abid Mohiuddin: Corruption afflicts almost all Pakistani politicians. I am not a fan of NS, but how and why the fact that a prime minister, using his constitutional powers, fires a COAS who happens to be on board a flight would endanger the passengers unless somebody on board the flight decides to interfere with the flight -- which is an act of air piracy. Musharraf and his cronies must be punished for all their crimes -- especially the crime of subversion of the constitution. If NS doesn't go ahead with this prosecution, he will be committing an act of gross negligence. If you want to get rid of NS's government, you will have to wait for his term to expire. At that time, if the people of Pakistan refuse to reelect him, your wish would have come true. If they rehire him, then he will be prime minister for the fourth time. This is how political churnings in Pakistan will start to develop democratic underpinnings, and then one day there will be fully fledged democracy and rule of law in Pakistan. Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
@Xnain: Add Hamid Gul to the list!
I agree with comment written by Siddique Malik.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has shown an error of judgment. When he knew that Zahid Hamid was law minister when Musharraf declared emergency, why did he appoint Mr. Hamid to the same post when a case on the matter was in progress? And why is it so important that Mr. Hamid should have a cabinet position? By the virtue of now being the science and technology minister, he is still a cabinet member. Why taint the cabinet with such a character? Why not simply remove him from the cabinet? Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
@salar:Media and anti mush elements had spread for a long time mush will never will return to Pakistan,same tac-tics he has no support,people like you will believe whatever the anti mush media want you to believe,if mush had been allowed to contest the election,his party would have gained a lot more seats, not just Chitral,while Musharraf was abroad APML had not done a good job promoting making people aware of all the development that took place place during Musharraf tenure,media has never been interested in highlighting all the good he did for Pakistan,just spent 4years spreading lies propaganda regarding lal masjid etc by anti musharraf politicians. Media gave no coverage to Apml,unlike the huge media hype for PTI.
Bloggers, I dont think that this whole issue is related to Musharraf being an urdu speaking.We shouldnt think of it this way however the issue is more of an acceptance/ rejection of dictatorial rule. Most of the present politicians were in Musharraf's Government anyway and from different backgrounds moreover they are all out there waiting for their turn to get ministeries. @Salar Regarding the lack of support for Mushaaraf on the ground we could have only know about it if he was allowed to participate in the election which wasnt the case. Since the whole election was engineeredwe saw same old faces in the form of various parties. (Pahle Humari Bari phir Tumharee Bari........Mil kay lootain gay). 'The Politics of Reconcillation'strong text*strong text*
@Mr. Khan , I think you should be barred for life to comment on ET . Musarraf and his team has done what the time and situation demanded at that phase of Pakistan's political scenario . Musarraf is not only hero of Mozahirs but all right thinking people of Pakistan . He is there and will remain there to shape the destiny of Pakistan . His family left india behind to follow a secular vision of Jinnah and not to form a Islamic republic and a breeding ground of terrorists .
seeing the contradiction between the apparent lack of public support on the ground for Musharraf and his popularity in the cyber world, I am inclined to think that Musharraf has assigned some people the job to sing his praises on the net and especially in the comment sections.
Sub Aik hee thali Kay chate buttay
Can't comprehend if he and others were all part of the dictatorial rule then why only Musharraf is on trial. People may not like this; Pakistan was in far better position then in today's democracy.
@Karachi: >> Release Musharraf! No drama anymore!
Not a Chance, my friend! PML-N needs a drama to divert public's attention from the real problems.
Should Imran khan be tried for supporting 1999 coup and shameful referendum of 2002. should jahangir tareen be tried for being in musharaf cabinet, should javed hashmi be tried for 1977 martial law cabinet. ghulam sarwar khan of PTI was in musharaf cabinet
This is absolutely ridiculous. This is expected with this incompetent government
For a truly fair trial Musharraf should be released immediately to have access to media and supporters and team of lawyers . .He has been kept in jail for more than two months for lame cases and the judiciary keep extending his judicial remand week after weeks .Ids this a fair trial ??
I will ask he was not an Urdu speaking then the treatment could have been the same ??
no one will be able to touch pervez musharraf, try as much as they wish. get ready for a long and dirty trial if this thing goes on for a while. musharraf didnt come back with some naive intentions. he knew what he was in for. as kasuri said, the 'pandoras box' will be opened before long.
@Adnan Siddiqi:
hahaha..reformation of pakistan and PML-N can never go in the same sentence. this is the same ridiculous party that came into being at the behest of an dictator, who nawaz sharif goes as if its a religious obligation to visit his grave, and somehow musharraf is bad but zia ul haq is good. give me a break.
@Abid: "How law ministry and science technology are related anyway?" . They are not related at all but what were the criteria that the choice fell on someone to run a particular ministry?
Zahid Hamid is very capable person he has been elected by his constituents many times one thing I do not understand how he and all the other people of high intelligence like Judges decided to serve in the Dictator’s regime who had clearly broken the constitution of Pakistan what ever their reason are there should be consequences for doing this. All those who served in his regime in key positions should be barred to hold public or government jobs for life.
@Jibran: Indeed, so should be Shaikh Rasheed, Jahangir Tareen and Mubashir Luqman and many more!
You have to wonder about the integrity of NS and PMLN when such blatant conflict of interests surfaces right in the heart of the Cabinet. I didn't trust politicians before I don't trust them now.
Abid! He knows the science to manipulate the law. There is your answer.
Yes he should be tried too since he was the law minister. He must have advised the ex president. He did not resign at that time . He must explain his role in public
How law ministry and science technology are related anyway?
He was immediately assigned a new ministry. Wow... this guy knows how to get the best of both worlds. Few people knows this art.
Completely agree with Mr.Shahid Ahmad. Besides he was qualified for the job of Law Minister and if he didn't want to continue in that capacity there was no need to accommodate him in Science & Technology portfolio. Speaks volumes about our govt.'s commitment to promotion of science and technology.
Release Musharraf! No drama anymore!
Although I am a supporter of PML-N; lock, stock and barrel but Zahid Hamid of all the ex-Musharraf cronies should never have been allocated Law Ministry. PML-N would be better off by avoiding such gaffes as it has insurmountable challenges in its path towards the reformation of Pakistan.
It would be unfair if one does not appreciate the courage and boldness exhibited by pervez Musharraf who is facing all odds in the form of judiciary, taliban and a hostile government and how a fair trial is possible when the whole judiciary is party in the case.
Resigned for fair trial? He's an accomplice, should be behind bars.