Rasheed Ghazi murder case: Plea to keep Musharraf’s name on ECL

Complainant fears ex-ruler may not return.

ISLAMABAD:

The complainant in the Abdur Rashid Ghazi murder case has asked the interior ministry to keep ex-military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Musharraf is currently seeking removal of his name from the list in judges’ detention case so that he may go abroad to see his ailing mother.

In his written application to the ministry the complainant, Haroonur Rashid, son of Abdur Rashid Ghazi, has claimed that Musharraf would never come back to Pakistan once he manages to leave the country.

Ehtisham Ahmed, spokesperson for Shohda Foundation Pakistan (SFP) a representative body of those slain during the military action against the inmates of Lal Masjid in July 2007, said Musharraf was planning to fly abroad this week.

“We have learnt that he (Musharraf) has already booked his seats for November 21 and he would leave Pakistan if he gets permission from the Sindh High Court,” he said.



The former president’s application for removal of his name from ECL was pending before SHC in judges’ detention case. However, he was on bail in all four cases against him while the government is in the process of initiating the high treason case against him.

Haroonur Rashid said that while submitting his application before the SHC, the former president concealed the fact that a murder trial against him is in progress in the court of additional sessions judge in Islamabad. Musharraf has sought exemption from appearance before SHC where the hearing was fixed for November 26.

“Even if his appearance is exempted, his name may not be removed from ECL as he has to face trial for the murder of hundreds of innocent persons,” stated the application filed to the interior ministry.

“It is, therefore, submitted that Musharraf’s name may not be removed from the ECL in the interest of justice otherwise the federal secretary and minister of interior would be responsible to frustrate the administration of justice and for abetment in his crimes,” it added.

The application referred to the findings of the judicial commission that probed the Lal Masjid which suggest that Musharraf was already held responsible for the military operation and the subsequent killing of inmates of the mosque including Ghazi and his mother.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20^th, 2013.