Lal Masjid case: Musharraf, Shaukat Aziz nominated co-accused

The complainant has asked the police to book all the officials involved in murder case.

ISLAMABAD:

Haroonur Rashid Ghazi, the complainant in Lal Masjid case, has nominated former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf, former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, former federal ministers Khursheed Kasuri, Aftab Khan Sherpao and Tariq Azeem among others as co-accused in the case.

Ghazi recorded his statement with Aabpara police on Monday and nominated the former premier, his ministers and the then officials of civil administration for helping Musharraf in the military operation, in 2007, that resulted in killing of his father Abdur Rashid Ghazi, his grandmother and ‘innocent seminary students’. He has asked the police to book all the accused in the murder case.

The police were, however, yet to include their names in the FIR registered against Pervez Musharraf. In his statement, former president denied all allegations. He told investigators that it was the federal government under the prime minister that took the decision to launch military operation.



He was president at that time and there was no culpable proof or written evidence that he gave the order for the operation, Musharraf told the interrogators last week.

Quoting former president’s statement before and during the military operation, Ghazi has, however, alleged in his statement that Musharraf gave direct ‘life threats’ to his father and Lal Masjid inmates.

“He rejected the peace deal brokered by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and ordered the operation,” the complainant maintained in his statement.

He requested the police that beside murder charges, Musharraf should also be booked under Pakistan Penal Code sections 120, 506 and 7 ATA (Anti-Terrorism Act) for issuing threats, using proscribed weapons (chemical weapons) in the operation and desecrating the Holy Book.

Others nominated as co-accused included the then Capital Development Authority chairman Kamran Lashari, Chief Commissioner Khalid Pervaiz, Interior Secretary Kamal Shah, IGP Iftikhar Ahmed and four magistrates on duty in the area at that time.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2013.