Saad Rafiq defends his statements against Musharraf

Rafiq says he sincerely believes in the 'sanctity of the Pakistan Army' and respects ex-army chief Gen Kayani.


Web Desk April 15, 2014
"I sincerely believe in the sanctity of Pakistan Army," says Khwaja Saad Rafique. PHOTO: FILE

In response to the controversy raised in local media in response to statements made by Minister of Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq on March 31 and after, he issued a statement on Tuesday to clarify that his stance on Pervez Musharraf was not an attack on the army.

In the statement, he said that Musharraf had “abrogated the Constitution on October 12, 1999” and had “repeated the act on November 3, 2007”, adding that the Supreme Court has already “declared him guilty”.

Rafiq also said that he “sincerely believes in the sanctity of the Pakistan Army because they are the custodian of [Pakistan's] territorial and ideological boundaries”, adding that he had on record praised the role of former army chief Gen (Retd) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani who “depoliticised the institution of Armed Forces over the past six years”.

The Railways minister had on March 31 called Musharraf a “traitor” and the “worst offender of the nation”. He had also stated that Musharraf had used his powers as army chief in an “unlawful” and “unconstitutional” manner, damaging democracy and hurting the legitimacy of the Supreme Court.

He had also accused Musharraf of ordering the Lal Masjid incident and for the murder of Akbar Bugti, adding that Musharraf had hurt the Army more than any other former army chief had.

In another statement Rafiq had called Musharraf a “coward” and accused him of putting up a “drama” to avoid legal proceedings against him.

Defending his statements on April 3, 2014 outside the National Assembly, Rafiq said that it was his contention that “our Baloch, Pakhtoon and Sindhi brothers have all suffered” under Pervez Musharraf’s rule.

COMMENTS (36)

Syed | 10 years ago | Reply @Raheel Khan: I appreciate your sense of judgement. You have bravely brought out the facts. Akbar Bugti had killed his own son Saleem Bugti only because he had asked his father to hand over the Sardari to him and resign from the seat. This chap got billion from OGDC, PPL and Baluchistan Government, but instead fo putting the money on his area and people development he spent that money for purchasing weapons from Indians and raising his self styled Army. He got killed by stupidly firing rocket inside the cave,he was hiding in, killing himself, his guards and one Army Colonel and his guards, who had asked him to surrender. Still we sing the Indian Song of Akbar being Shaheed. No one talks about Army Colonel and soldiers. LAL MASJID joker is pretending to be flag holder of Islam, isn't it funny? As regards Kargil, even Indian General VK Singh appreciated Musharraf's courage and his actions in Kargil, strangely the same is being rediculed by own politicians. Are we a Ghairatmand Qaum?
Raheel Khan | 10 years ago | Reply

I pity this Mr Saad.

He is defend Akbar Khan Bugti, against whom there are proves of being the head of BLA. Does he even know the mean of BLA?

Lal Masjid people were threatening the government in the capital and that to with ammunitions in their hands. Since when masajids are allowed to keep weapons for their defence?

I think whatever Musharraf did was all right and legitimate, except overlooking few army personal who took advantage of the power they receive by Musharraf.

It was Nawaz Sharif who backed off from Kargil, under UNs pressure otherwise Musharraf would have taken that too for the rivals.

And please do not compare him with the other General of the past. Every General has his own identity. And Musharraf did the best of all.

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