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.
"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.
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.