Low turnout of APML supporters as Musharraf appears in court
Hardly a dozen Musharraf loyalists and MQM workers present at the court while Musharraf was being charged.
A supporter of Pervez Musharraf holds a poster bearing his image outside a special court set up to try Musharraf during a hearing in Islamabad on March 31, 2014. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The All Pakistan Muslim League's attempts at showcasing political strength (APML) continued to be unsuccessful as its workers failed to gather outside of the special court in support of their leader, former dictator Pervez Musharraf, who was indicted on treason charges today.
Hardly a dozen Musharraf loyalists and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers managed to reach the court where the trial was taking place. The supporters held portraits of Pervez Musharraf and chanted slogans in support of the former army chief.
This was almost the same group of supporters present at the court a month ago, when Musharraf made his first court appearance.
“We were also not expecting that the Musharraf sahib will be appearing in the court. That’s why there are few supporters”, said Ahsan Khan, a supporter of the former dictator.
“There would have been crowd of thousands of party workers had we exactly known that President sahib’s appearance before the court this time,” he maintained.
Despite the low turnout, the supporters chanted “Musharraf Tera janisar beshomar beshomar” when Musharraf entered the premises of the special court in his security convoy.
“Our supporters were not allowed to cross the red zone and were stopped at the Nadra office by the police,” said Chaudhry Haider, a young Musharraf supporter from Rawalpindi.
MQM President Punjab Mian Attique, also a member of the MQM Rabita Committee, arrived at the special court along with fellow MQM workers. "We've come on the advice of party leader Altaf Hussain to show solidarity [with the former army chief]," he said.
“We think that the case against Musharraf is politically motivated as he was singled out in the November 3 action.”
The court will decide later today whether Musharraf's request to see his mother in Dubai, enabling him to leave the country, will be granted or not.
The All Pakistan Muslim League's attempts at showcasing political strength (APML) continued to be unsuccessful as its workers failed to gather outside of the special court in support of their leader, former dictator Pervez Musharraf, who was indicted on treason charges today.
Hardly a dozen Musharraf loyalists and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers managed to reach the court where the trial was taking place. The supporters held portraits of Pervez Musharraf and chanted slogans in support of the former army chief.
This was almost the same group of supporters present at the court a month ago, when Musharraf made his first court appearance.
“We were also not expecting that the Musharraf sahib will be appearing in the court. That’s why there are few supporters”, said Ahsan Khan, a supporter of the former dictator.
“There would have been crowd of thousands of party workers had we exactly known that President sahib’s appearance before the court this time,” he maintained.
Despite the low turnout, the supporters chanted “Musharraf Tera janisar beshomar beshomar” when Musharraf entered the premises of the special court in his security convoy.
“Our supporters were not allowed to cross the red zone and were stopped at the Nadra office by the police,” said Chaudhry Haider, a young Musharraf supporter from Rawalpindi.
MQM President Punjab Mian Attique, also a member of the MQM Rabita Committee, arrived at the special court along with fellow MQM workers. "We've come on the advice of party leader Altaf Hussain to show solidarity [with the former army chief]," he said.
“We think that the case against Musharraf is politically motivated as he was singled out in the November 3 action.”
The court will decide later today whether Musharraf's request to see his mother in Dubai, enabling him to leave the country, will be granted or not.