Pervez Musharraf is currently facing trial in four cases: judges’ detention and the murders of Benazir Bhutto and Nawab Akbar Bugti, and now the Lal Masjid operation. PHOTO: FILE
Former president Pervez Musharraf was just packing his bags on Thursday when he was rearrested following accusations that he was personally responsible for the deaths of Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi and his mother during the 2007 military operation at the mosque and Jamia Hafsa.
Less than 24 hours before, Musharraf had been declared a free man and had won clearance from the Supreme Court in the Akbar Bugti murder case. Islamabad police then arrested the former army chief, who was preparing to fly to Dubai upon formally clearing some legal hurdles.
Earlier, Musharraf’s legal team deposited surety bonds with the Supreme Court’s registrar office and the court also issued a release order.
Musharraf’s farmhouse has been declared a sub-jail, where the case will be heard for security reasons. A team of the capital city police also recorded his statement in the case and he is likely to be presented in court for a judicial remand today (Friday).
Dr Amjad Malik, the secretary general of the All Pakistan Muslim League, told The Express Tribune that after Musharraf gets a judicial remand, the legal team will apply for a bail application so that he could be declared free – again.
A lawyer for Musharraf, Ahmad Raza Kasuri, confirmed the arrest but said there was no evidence against his client.
“There is nothing to worry about because it is virtually a case of no evidence,” Kasuri said. “It was a state action, a military action.”
The FIR was registered against him on the direction of the Islamabad High Court on September 3. However, on Thursday, the Lal Masjid Shohada Foundation (LMSF) filed a petition in the high court seeking the inclusion of Musharraf’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL).
Haroon Rasheed Ghazi, son of Maulana Abdul Rashid Ghazi, filed the petition through his advocate Tariq Asad, submitting that he is set to leave the country despite a murder case being registered against him.
Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi had directed the police to register an FIR in response to the petition which will be taken up today (Friday).
He is currently facing trial in four cases: judges’ detention and the murders of Benazir Bhutto and Nawab Akbar Bugti, and now the Lal Masjid operation.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 11th, 2013.
COMMENTS (16)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
The result of this case will be the same as before ...
If this case can be registered then killing of Lt Col Haroon Islam should also be registered.
The incompetent rulers want to please terrorists and India, but will for sure miserably fail to deter the great commando. Long live Musharraf.
The commando, who used to show fists on stage, is bound to face the music of his misdeeds!
Everybody knows mr ghazi was a terrorist,and was against the of state...in this case, the arresting a great General is quite nonsense.
What about staging a military coup to over throw a legally elected government of Nawaz Sharif in 1999, how come his lawyer don't want to say anything about that. It is time that the courts uphold the Constitution of Pakistan, if this man has violated the constitution then he must face the law. I thought Commandos are brave people but looks like this one is flying the coop instead of facing the law, nothing but shear cowardice. I say if he is a man enough then he should stay and fight his cases in the court and if he thinks he is innocent then he should prove it to the courts and the courts will exonerate him if found innocent. A precedence must be established now that no Generals in future could think that they could get away by subverting the constitution of Pakistan, the law must take it's course. Now the Americans are pressuring the government in Islamabad to let him go out of the country because he served them well but one must also remember that it was the Americans who put him in the pasture in the first place like they did to other dictators around the world. When would these tin horn dictators will ever learn.
@Haider Raza, people of Pakistan are against both of them, Musharraf and TTP. Both are responsible for the mess.
Sweet
@Ch. Allah Daad: PTI? Dude seriously? Do you even read the news before commenting? You don't seem very intelligent, PTI is supporting Musharraf while N is opposing him along with the two of his 'allies' that you mentioned.
Our people are retards. They forgot all the stunts performed by the Lal Masjid Brigade. The only thing people remember is that the govt attacked the MOSQUE. FYI it was the most wanted and needed operation and anybody who took part in the operation should be rewarded for killing the terrorists.
pro Taliban judges can not deliver justice. but they will fail for sure.
@Haider Raza: Mush played Kargil with lives of thousands of Pakistani army soldiers who died in Kargil. He lied to every one that soldiers were mujahedeen and treated them like Mujahedeen.
He illegally took over a civilian government.
What kind of nonsense heading by ET. How does ET knows his travel plans. Grow up ET!
Strangely people are supporting Talibans who are killing them and not supporting Mr. Pervaiz Musharraf who was and still trying to protect them and want make Pakistan a better place. May be that's why we are under so many problems as a nation as we don't know what is good or bad for us and who is right or wrong. Think about it please as a nation not as a single entity. Favoring wrong people will also make you sinner.
we are so found of throwing away conspiracies.from where did ET learn about travel plans of Gen Musharref.
further, arrested for murder of late ghazi.give me a break.every pakistani knows that mr ghazi had converted lal masjid for his unholy motives;kidnapping chinese,murdering of security officials,giving refuge to terrorists,rejection of constitution etc etc are some of the very serious crimes commited by him.exonerating rasheed ghazi of these crimes and putting ex president on trial is beyond any logical understanding.
shows where pakistan as a society is heading.LEARN LESSON FROM BANGLADESH PLEASE....
Taliban, PTI and JI were mourning the death of Radio Mullah when they heard news of Musharaf's arrest. Once again we can see smiles on their faces.