The FIA panel concluded that Zahid Hamid was allegedly involved in preparing a draft of the declaration which was presented to Aziz’s cabinet. PHOTO: FILE
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) suspects a significant role was played by Zahid Hamid, the incumbent minister for science and technology, and at least two dozen other top officials and political aides of former prime minister Shaukat Aziz in the imposition of emergency rule in 2007.
Sources told the Express Investigation Cell that the FIA has mentioned this in a preliminary report and sought permission from the government to expand its probe to others possibly involved in the case. However, the government has yet to respond to the FIA’s request.
An FIA panel comprising Additional Director General Khalid Qureshi, Director Hussain Asghar and Director Maqsood ul Hasan mentioned in their report that there was an urgent need to investigate those who may have abetted former president Pervez Musharraf in this instance in order to fulfill the legal requirements of the high treason case against the former army chief.
“Other than Pervez Musharraf, the FIA wants to question Shaukat Aziz’s top aides who played a direct or indirect role in the imposition of emergency rule in November 2007,” the FIA’s preliminary report stated.
According to sources, the FIA’s preliminary report had confirmed that imposition of emergency rule was illegal and a case can be registered against Musharraf. The report urged for the expansion of the investigation to other officials involved.
The FIA’s record states that the emergency rule was approved by Shaukat Aziz’s cabinet during its morning session on November 3rd, 2007. The cabinet meeting was attended by Zahid Hamid as well as other ministers. Emergency rule was imposed later that evening. Sources said the meeting’s record was provided to the FIA’s investigating team by the relevant authorities.
The FIA team has recorded statements of around two dozen top political and legal aides of Shaukat Aziz’s government and these statements were made a part of the report submitted to the interior ministry. Those whose statements were recorded by the FIA team include former governors, chief ministers, former secretary interior and the principal secretary to Pervez Musharraf.
The FIA panel concluded that Zahid Hamid was allegedly involved in preparing a draft of the declaration which was presented to Aziz’s cabinet. Despite having adequate evidence of Hamid’s role in the two weeks of consultation that had led to the imposition of emergency rule, the FIA panel was unable to summon Hamid to record his statement.
Similarly, the FIA inquiry team did not issue any notice to then-prime minister Shaukat Aziz to question him. The team limited itself to questioning those government officials and legal aides who had either retired or were of low stature.
The absence of Pervez Musharraf’s statement in the FIA’s report also raises a question on its credibility. The FIA panel had scheduled a meeting to record Musharraf’s statement but it submitted the report to the interior ministry without any recorded statement. Hamid was unavailable for comments despite repeated attempts to contact him.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2014.
COMMENTS (14)
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Every sensible person knows That Pervez Musharraf didn't forcefully take over on October 12,1999. People don't even know the meaning of a dictator. The amount of progress that took place in the Pervez Musharraf tenure in every field and area had never been seen in the entire history of Pakistan.
People that have short term memories can say whatever they want but the facts will remain facts.
The last take over had very justified reasons. The Sharif's called in for their political death even at that time,tampering with the courts,removing people in different institutions because they did not agree with the Sharif's monarchic tyranny and then the last straw was when they hijacked the PIA flight that included general Pervez Musharraf on it and didn't allow it to land anywhere in Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif without informing Pervez Musharraf,was making Ziauddin Butt the COAS,that created a lot of tension within the army. Ziauddin Butt was also related to Nawaz Sharif,Sharif was running a monarchy in the name of democracy.
Failure to raise the economy,failure to give relief to the people,the law and order situation was going out of hands and then trying to remove General Pervez Musharraf from his position in a very unethical and unconstitutional manner,and risking the lives of all the passengers on the plane resulted in the take over of 1999.
@Nida Alvi...not only Musarraf..but everybody including C.J.if trail is done from 1999,even Nawaz Shareef should also be included ,since he took the oath to save guard the constitution..but in the end he fled the country by a deal
@Nida Alvi: Do not tell lies.Musharraf was holding the post of president and army chief on nov 3,23007.
This government was voted to lessen the misery of the people of Pakistan. By all accounts, that is not happening. With the advent of summer, the load shedding appears to be worse than ever before. Musharraf trial is a "drama" to divert the attention from real issues.
@Nida Alvi.....the main culprit is ex C.J. who validated the act of 1999...and gave full power to change any law at his free will...in civilized country the man(C.J.) who validated the act would been in jail not living a luxurious life with ill gotten money
At the end of the case, Judiciary & Government will be more bruised that the alleged accused.
Slowly but surely the hypocrisy and vindictiveness will be proved. Musharraf will come out victorious.
@Kamal: This all will naturally end where most other civilized countries of the world (Turkey, Sri Lanka, Chile ...) have reached i.e., no more holy cows and the burial of "doctrine of necessity" forever! If you are a worshipper of Musharraf you will definitely continue to feel chaos & desperation while observing your idol getting broken down to his knees.
Musharraf was single-handedly holding the 4 most powerful offices in Pakistan: 1. Army Chief 2. Chairman Joint Services Chief 3. President of Pakistan 4. Chief Executive of Pakistan It is nothing less than a joke that a person with such a power/might is now looking for people to cover him up for the imminent punishment. Was their "consultation" binding on Musharraf, who was holding the might in his own hands and had replaced 3 Prime Ministers during a single constitutional tenure of the National Assembly??
Hats off to Musharraf who is defending himself but not dragging the actual culprits.
"The absence of Pervez Musharraf’s statement in the FIA’s report also raises a question on its credibility." Why Musharraf is denied access to this report. Well done Farogh Naseem
and now the pandora's box open......