PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
ISLAMABAD: Former President Pervez Musharraf, who had only just managed to secure his release following bail being granted in the Akbar Bugti murder case, found himself under arrest again for the charge of murdering the 'prayer leader' of Lal Masjid, Abdul Rasheed Ghazi during the infamous 2007 operation, Express News reported on Thursday.
"We have put General Musharraf under house arrest in a case involving a military operation on an Islamabad mosque," Muhammad, Rizwan, a senior official of the Islamabad police told reporters.
"We will present him before a court on Friday," Rizwan added, after visiting Musharraf's plush villa at the edge of Islamabad, which has been declared a sub-jail.
Police had earlier refused a request by leaders of the Red Mosque to name General Musharraf as a suspect in the case of a military raid in 2007 which saw dozens killed including one of the administrators.
On orders from the Islamabad High Court, though, a case was finally registered against Musharraf on September 2, for the murder of Abdul Rashid and his mother during the Lal Masjid operation, paving way for Thursday's arrest.
The case was filed after Haroon Rasheed, the son of Abdul Rasheed Ghazi, submitted an application at the Aabpara police station for the registration of an FIR against the former president for involvement in the death of Haroon's father and grandmother.
In the application, Rasheed had referred to about 20 pages of the Lal Masjid Commission report, which hold the former president responsible for the operation.
“Over 300 witnesses had testified in the Lal Majid commission report that the operation was conducted on the directives of Pervez Musharraf,” he said.
He also referred to Musharraf’s statement during his Bolan visit on July 7, 2007 in which he gave an ultimatum — leave the mosque or you will be killed.
“Later he acted upon his statement and killed Abdul Rasheed Ghazi and others during the operation,” Rasheed wrote.
Party says Musharraf will apply for bail again
A party spokesman confirmed the arrest saying they will now apply for bail in the latest case.
"Yes, Police have officially arrested General Musharraf and put him under house arrest. We will file his bail application soon," Muhammad Amjad, secretary General of Musharraf's All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), told AFP.
On Wednesday, Musharraf was granted bail by a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court in the Bugti murder case on account of insufficient evidence against the accused. The indicted former president had already received bail in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case and the judges' detention case.
COMMENTS (66)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Maula Jatt: Mr. Jatt! Don't make attributions without knowing facts and read my comment very carefully.
@salim: I know you are a Hindu, stop posting using a Muslim name. Also, refrain from insulting the Islamic religion.
@Rex Minor: Nice try!
@shahid Maliks: The Maulvi turned 'the House of God' into the 'House of Satan' with the likes of Afghan, Arabs, Chechens, Tajiks, Uzbeks etc. Hence the liberation of the mosque from these human devils.
@Midas: Yes he can. He is first pakistani leader who talk about establishing state's writ across Pakistan. He is clear about his targets and a fast decision maker. He is confident enough to face any challange. He introduced best local government system. Nadra is his brain child. Higher education (Dr.Ataur Reheman minister) was monstrously advancing, and a lot more.
@True Karachiwala: would Musharraf do?
@shahid Maliks:
ET moderator, Why do you refuse to register my reply, which I reckon is important for all those who claim to be muslims. Neither a King nor a Ruler has the right to desecrate the sanctity of a mosque, the House of God regardless of the reasons given. ll thosed who participated in the carnage do no longer belong to the family of Ummah and their fate as well as the fate of the city of Islamabd is sealed. This is what is written in the scriptures and this is what is going to transpire.
Rex Minor
Incredible.Terrorists are set free and someone who has no option but to enforce the writ of the state is put behind bars.
It is such a shame to see the justice system and judiciary being used for political bias and revenge vendetas by the judiciary itself, they are supposed to be impartial, objective and upholders of law. Hon CJ, Sir, any comments? Mush was exhonerated by a commission during the last government in Lal Masjid case. People should remember, especially Muslims, how much emphasis has been laid down on justice in Islam by Allah and His rasool (saw), even if they escape accountability in this world, do they remember they are answerable herafter and that retribution will be severe. Kuch Khuda ka khauf karen, kiun is mulk to zalil kar rahen hein, apni ana key liyai.
It is time Pakistan eliminate capital punishment and replace it with humane Sharia!!!
Rex Minor
@Hammad Mian I want to see you hanged asap. You look like an illiterate person as well as dishonest, not sincere to you and so to the country/Motherland.
@Syedpk - "The comments on this story has restored my faith in Humanity "
There have been both types of comments on this story.. Which ones helped you restored your faith in Humanity - Hammad Mian and his ilk or the Liberal Fascists??
Having confused PM, confused COAS, confused CMs and uncertainity prevalent in the country, we need this clear headed man to save Pakistan
People who support Musharraf for his Lal masjid operation why not you support Dr Shakeel Afridi also? He also helped to eliminate OBL..
@A J Khan:
Sure, since when the court is asking to file a case against any person. Its not the judge job. Dont the judges know there is another court up there and they have to answer to Him.
The comments on this story has restored my faith in Humanity :).
This action is taken to please Taliban, PTI and JI who must be very sad on the death of Mullah Radio.
@Rex Minor: It is people like you Mr who need to be sentenced. Did you ask the moulvi why he turned mosque in to a fortress and for what purpose? Remember Allah Knows All. May Allah Almighty give you the strength to accept the truth and not misguide the poor people. We all have to return to HIM and must fear the Day of Judgement.
Only person to really fight terrorists... gets arrested.
I didn't really care for the fake commando but something very fishy. Could it be one of the condition for talk by TTP is that someone be held accountable for lal masjid tragedy? If so, it will be very hard for mushy to get out of this one. As with the bugti case, the awam did not have sympathy with the baloch, where as in case of lal masjid a large percentage has sympathy. Besides, TTP lal masjid connection is well known, i think NS is more than happy to oblige to this demand(give ttp mush).:)
It is ironic that General Musharraf who served his country all his life is being treated as a common criminal while the certified common criminals have held and still holding high offices of the Land.
Even when he was abroad, he held the honour of his country above everything else!
Long live Musharraf.
@A-No.1:
absolutely! and to be honest, sometimes there is a bitterness in musharrafs voice over how quiet ashfaq kayani, however good a COAS and apolitical he has been. he really could have stopped this charade a long time ago and told the courts to lay off musharraf over these fictitious cases. he hasnt done so, to his former boss that is.
Good work, keep this murderer in jail for life and seize all the stolen Pakistani money from his bank accounts.
The High court Judge is the same person who **showered flowers on Salman Taseer's killer. This country is really turning into a Joke and a state where high officials of Justiciary support terrorism by arresting a person who killed terrorists. Long live General Saab
@Hammad Mian: Why don't you join TTP they need you and you need them. Your mentality is of a terrorist. People of your thinking aka terrorist should be hanged not Musharraf who killed them for making a joke out of a mosque.
I think Mush is the luckiest man alive in Pakistan. He is like a cat with Nine lives.
His biggest mistake was to go back from exile.
Nevertheless, he still might make it out in one piece.
Al Capone was finally got for tax fraud...........but they did get him.
Pakistan is stock of laugh. Mr. Musharraf is a patriotic person. He must release immediately as he serve the nation more than any politician,
There is a twist in the tale.
But he will still get the bail.
The commando will fly out unscratched with his enemies going pale...
Best news of the day Ghazi Rasheed was indeed a great man who fought for Shariyah "The best Jihad is to speak a word of truth to a tyrant ruler."
@A J Khan: judicary doesnt has any image in first place. all the educated lot considers them as idiots... lets be honest does any of case lodge against musharaff makes any sense at all, i mean benazir, bughti and lal masjid..if thats true that zardari can be put on trail for 20,000 people who died during his time..?
people will laugh in us ..and they are laughing..
@sadi:
Musharraf was a president too. At that time an elected PM who had dismissed him (using his constitutional Authority) was in Jail and then later in Exile.
Politicians get a second chance because they come in power via elections, History of Pakistan tells us dictators only get one chance. He had his already. He used gun to rule Pakistan for a decade. He had his chance to prove himself.
What ever does not happens in the world can happen in Pakistan.
The whole system of the country is corrupt, inefficient and backward.
Furthermore, the Pakistanis also do not want to learn from the developed nations, otherwise the monopoly of the most corrupt politician of the world who lives in Pakistan will come to an end and the bureaucrats will not be able to accumulate illegal wealth and spend more than their monthly official income.
What matters in Pakistan is the money which with the passage of time have come over and above the religion of Muslims.
In the heart every body wants to sell Pakistan, but when one would ask the same question on the face, his reply will be that he is the only patriotic person in the country.
The truth is that people do not love Quaid-e-Azam who is buried in the grave, but love the pictures of Quaid-e-Azam which are printed on the currency notes of Pakistan.
I am a little bit blunt today, but I am writing what I have observed after interacting with many people from different segments of society.
Pakistan is not a country for the honest and dedicated people to live and this is the only reason of massive brain drain from Pakistan.
Get ready for some whipping from the Saudis. Nawaz Sharif got a cold shoulder from the Saudis for not releasing Musharraf on his last trip.
Musharraf is the man and he will fight all these false allegations. May Allah protect you Mr. Musharraf.
@sadi: But Altaf Hussain is still in London enjoying himself and Free ! so be happy !
why arrest him.. in my opinion Musharraf showed as much restrain that it is unbelievable... None of those Mullahs in that TERROR camp should have been left alive after what they tried to pull in the center of Islamabad
The superior courts have consistently conveyed this message. The blood of religious hatred spewing terrorists is thicker than a backward nawab sitting in the remote part of balochistan. Either they are scared of the power of the extremists or they are accomplices.
Starting to believe in Allah :-)
Ridiculous and smacks of political vendatta.
Nathan
@Lal: We are not asking you!
Such court verdicts prove that Pakistan can never win a war against terrorist of TTP or other organizations. After having seen the fate of Musarraf, who will take strong action against extremists?
This is a challenge to the writ and spirit of Supreme court decision. Islamabad high court is playing in the hands of terrorist but Insha Allah he will b bailed out soon in this one too . Of all the cases this is the weakest case
Do not forget the Justice of Islamabad high court is the lawyer of the Ghazi Family .
Long Live Musharraf
Stupid cases, stupid Judiciary, what a mockery of the judicial system. You can say whatever Musharraf is still the best.
Lal Masjid operation was probably the only good act by Musharraf and he had no other way but to do it under intense pressure and threats from China and he did it rather reluctantly.
@Jahil: Good comment. Keep it up..
Down with Islamabad High Court
@Hammad Mian: Wishful!
This was pretty quick after my commentry on other poster. I hope that the justice will be served in this world for desecrating the sanctity of the House of God when he is sentenced to serve the Lal Masjid mosque for a period of not less than the time he remained as a dictator!!
Rex Minor
No No No there is some thing seriously wrong here, a masjid turned into fort n ammunition depot above all in the heart of the Capital City, even than day after day government asking this mullah to surrender (which he didn't) arresting musharraf or charging him against establishing government rit, doesn't make sense. Actually, polixe needs to charge this Harron Rashid for helping his father/others turning house God into fort.
This case will further damage the image of Judiciary. They have proved beyond iota of doubt that Judiciary has become pawn of terrorists.
Again this is a judicial NOORA KUSHTI and nithing else . The coplainant should be charged for creating problem for a dignitory of the country and SHO should be promoted for refusing to lodge FIR in this case .
I will support you Musharraf for doing this again with people who bring bad name/bad culture to our mosques, to our religion, to our society. non sense case! he will be acquitted soon..insha allah
Rubbish.......He did his best to solve this problem in a peaceful manner but Molana took up the arms and made the students hostage. Moreover how can be somebody allowed to have illegal arms in the mosque and that too in the capital city. If the govt can't establish its writ in the capitol then what can be expected in the rest of the country. Welldone Gen u did it in the best interest of our country.
Ironic - finally free to leave the country and he's arrested for a crime he has zero chance of being convicted of. Demonstrates that religious right has more power than military.
Rubbish.......He did his best to solve this problem in a peaceful manner but Molana took up the arms make the students hostage. Moreover how can be somebody allowed to have illegal arms in the mosque and that too in the capital city. If the govt can't establish its writ in the capitol then what can be expected in the rest of the country. Welldone Gen u did it in the best interest of our country.
Keep him behind the bars. I want to see him hanged asap.
In this "Land of the Pure" every thing is upside down. Criminals are treated as innocent and innocent are treated as criminals. To get out of this rut Pakistan need to control Mullah and Lullah otherwise there is no hope for future.
Whether as COAS or President he acted in an official capacity. It is about time the army stepped in and stopped this rubbish of cases and arrests against a former COAS and President.
It is interesting that the courts released those, who had turned the mosque into an ammunition depot,but arrested the person who acted against them. Musharraf took a number of wrong steps during his tenure,but this one was definitely not.
Killers of people like "Abdul Rasheed Ghazi" should be rewarded, not jailed!!
He is paying the price of kargil war,no sympathy from india