Former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: AFP
RAWALPINDI/ KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Wednesday termed high treason case against former president Pervez Musharraf a ‘political revenge’ and demanded that the government initiate cases against all those who supported the ex-army chief in imposing the 2007 emergency.
A delegation of MQM, led by Senator Tahir Mashadi, was not allowed to meet the ailing ex-president on Wednesday after it reached the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology to inquire after his health.
Talking to journalists outside the AFIC, Senator Mashadi said that in 2007, then president Musharraf had imposed emergency after consulting with all stakeholders, but now the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government was singling him out.
“He was not alone in imposing emergency, but had the support of politicians and other stakeholders, therefore all those responsible should be tried for treason,” he said.
The delegation included women and children who were holding bouquets and portraits in their hands.
Meanwhile, Musharraf’s three-member legal team visited AFIC to meet their client. A source in the AFIC said that matters related to the treason case were discussed during the one-hour meeting.
Separately, addressing the constitutional and legal experts and political and defence analysts of Pakistan, MQM chief Altaf Hussain asked seven questions from those who were demanding severe punishment for Musharraf under Article 6. He said either these people demanding punishment for Musharraf should bring sound arguments in response to his points, or they should take back their demand.
He asked experts to explain as to why only Musharraf was being held responsible for the imposition of emergency. Why is it that the generals who aided Musharraf and those who validated the military action were allowed to remain free?
Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2014.
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MQM has always kept up principles and moral character. This is the reason that they are misfit in Pakistan's dirty political environment.
The central question that is ignored is the action of Musharraf which is alleged to be in contravention of the Constitution of Pakistan. Was his tenure as President of Pakistan against the letter and spirit of the Constitution? Let us all wait for the courts to decide. Whether other parties are also involved is another point. "Buck stops here" goes the saying. The person in charge should be held to account. In this case, the Government is right to hold to account the man in charge i.e. General Musharraf. Last but not the least, this case is sending a strong signal that there should be no more military-takeovers under any circumstances. Let us carry on our political life according to the constitution.