After the special court read out charges to him on Monday, Musharraf filed an application seeking removal of his name from the ECL so that he could travel abroad to seek medical treatment and see his ailing mother. PHOTO: INP/FILe
A day after the special court indicted General (retd) Pervez Musharraf on treason charges, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif consulted senior members of his party on whether or not to allow the former military ruler to travel abroad to seek medical treatment and see his ailing mother.
“No decision was taken. The matter will be discussed again today (Wednesday),” an official told The Express Tribune.
Most participants of the meeting – including Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Senators Raja Zafarul Haq and Sardar Mehtab Abbasi – opposed the idea of giving concessions to Musharraf. But the option is still under consideration.
After the party’s internal meeting, the premier met with army chief General Raheel Sharif. Later in the evening, former president Asif Ali Zardari also telephoned the prime minister and discussed the matter, although there was no official word on that.
Last year, the Sindh High Court had put Musharraf’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL), asking him not to leave the country without seeking prior permission from the concerned courts over his alleged involvement in several cases.
After the special court read out charges to him on Monday, Musharraf filed an application seeking removal of his name from the ECL so that he could travel abroad to seek medical treatment and see his ailing mother. The court, however, said it did not have jurisdiction over the matter and it was for the government to decide.
His new lawyer Dr Farogh Naseem subsequently filed an application with the interior ministry. Naseem told The Express Tribune that he was waiting for the government’s response and that he had several options. He would move the Supreme Court if the government did not respond favourably.
“It is more of a political decision and has minimal legal hurdles,” an interior ministry official told The Express Tribune. The government is perhaps weighing its options and possible repercussions of the decision, he added.
Some participants of Tuesday’s meeting believe that allowing Musharraf to travel abroad might give the impression that a deal was struck. “It would be difficult for the government to defend the decision,” said an official.
The members who opposed the move were of the view that punishing Musharraf for his unconstitutional deeds would serve as deterrence against violation of the Constitution in the future.
As the government is looking for a middle ground, some members floated the proposal of allowing Musharraf to travel abroad only if he tenders an apology.
Hours after the court indicted Musharraf on Monday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif made a categorical statement in the National Assembly that the government would implement the court’s decision in letter and spirit and Musharraf would not be given preferential treatment. Asif even offered transport to Musharraf’s ailing mother from Sharjah to Pakistan via an air ambulance.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2014.
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@Mohammad: Where did they distribute sweets? Believing in state owned television reports, LOL. Just remember that media was NOT free in 1999.
Long live PM. Nation are with you!
Any politicians.. can answer my question.. Why people distribute sweets and doesn't protest whenever there is coup and army takes over?
Letting the commando run is the only face-saving option left for both sides. The government saves face because they got the indictment done. Pushing this any further may lead to unpredictable consequences.
It will be prudent for the government of Pakistan not to allow Gen.Musharraf to leave the country and he should face the court till the court runs it's course. What ever the outcome of the court's decision should be accepted by all parties. If found guilty of treason then the President of Pakistan could give the general a reprieve and settle this matte once for all. His mother should be transported by air ambulance to Pakistan and certainly Pakistan has the hospitals to look after her and the general. It is a bad precedence for the elite who runs to foreign countries for their ailments but the rest of the citizens depend on local hospitals. It is so sad and it reflects negatively on the country which could not provide it's citizens the world class medical care they need even after 65 years.
Oh politicians! Show that you are not cowards.
he will never come back, like a bird out of the cage. However, one thing that must be done is for him to come on TV and tell PUBLIC that he is not running away from the trial and tell when he plans to return to continue with the trial. Atleast this way, if he is not going to come back he will never come back to politics either