Former president Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: INP/FILE
Musharraf has been accused of murdering former ‘prayer leader’ of Lal Masjid, Abdul Rasheed Ghazi during the infamous 2007 operation.
The retired general’s lawyer, Akhtar Shah in addition to submitting an application on behalf of his client for exemption from today's hearing submitted two more applications: one seeking acquittal in the murder case while the other permanent exemption from court hearings in the case.
Shah stated that the Lal Masjid Operation was conducted on the orders of the then-administration.
Talking to the media, he said, “If former prime minister Shaukat Aziz is sincere to the country he should return and tell everyone that the cabinet made the decision of the Lal Masjid Operation. The armed forces were called on the request of the then-SSP.”
The court issued notices to the concerned parties on Musharraf's applications seeking permanent exemption from court proceedings.
It must be noted that Additional District and Sessions Judge Wajid Ali who was hearing the case against Musharraf, has previously rejected Musharraf’s petition for permanent exemption.
The case
On September 2, a case was registered in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against Musharraf for the murder of the former cleric and his mother during the Lal Masjid operation.
The case was filed after Haroon Rasheed, the son of Ghazi, submitted an application at the Aabpara police station for the registration of an FIR against the former president for involvement in the death of Haroon’s father and grandmother.
In the application, Rasheed had referred to about 20 pages of the Lal Masjid Commission report, which hold the former president responsible for the operation.
Earlier, the IHC had stopped Station House Officer (SHO) Aabpara Police Station, Qasim Niazi from leaving the courtroom, saying that he would not be allowed to leave until a case was registered against Musharraf.
Police had earlier refused a request by leaders of the Lal Masjid to name General Musharraf as a suspect in the case of a military raid in 2007 which saw dozens killed including one of the administrators.
COMMENTS (16)
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@Rex Minor: Its amusing to see ur "love" for Gen Musharraf. Come on man, Ghazi was a good riddence case and if u feel Musharraf should be tried for getting rid of an extremist like him then mate your mindset is the reason why pakistan would never come out of the vicious circle of extremism!
Musharraf a hero and true leader.
@Rex Minor: Dear Rex, As usual you are quite right. I had I thought that perhaps continuing trials may disrupt the country, and at the end of the day is President Musharraf worth it? Also, my thinking was that President Musharaff may well have cronies and at some time in the future payback may occur. However, upon reflection I can see that letting President Musharraf of the hook may encourage other people to carry out questionable activities, so I will just leave it to wiser heads to handle President Musharraf and any resulting implications for Pakistan's future..
@Sexton Blake: Sir Are you suggesting that the accused murderer be sent to London or somewhere to escape the justice? He is not facing a political charge nor being tried for political reasons, he is facing the murder charge and being tried by the country which he ruled with Iron hand. There is no space on this planet for him to escape.
Rex Minor
How Abdulrashid became Gazi? He was one of the terrorist operating from the Mosque and he was killed by the security forces to establish country's rule of law. In this way how can Mr. Musharraf is involved ?. In Pakistan everything is reverse, those who serve the country and fought for the country is gaddar and those who looted the country and takes arms against the state is gazi and Shaheed !
@Ali Sardar: For our country's sake lets hope you are right.
What murder case??? Is govt action against a bunch of armed rebels a crime, and that too not in the wild FATA but in heart of the country's capital???
How deranged and demented can we get?
Musharraf should be tried for doing only half of the job he did. Had he finished and completed the job,Pakistan would not have been in the jaws of Taliban now.
I can see one court case after another unfolding over the next few years. President Musharafaf knew what he had done so he must be becoming low functioning to come back. The Government would do well to send him back to London, or elsewhere, on the grounds of diminished sensibility. It would solve many problems.
@Parvez...
Other half will be done later, Inshallah!
If Mush can be tried for the death of Ghazi then I am afraid all presidents, PMs, Governors and CMs be booked for forced disappearance and extra-judicial killing which happen every day. Mush only restored the sanity and peace which was his responsibility.
Now even Imran confirms that judges (Ch. Iftikhar and co.) were biased in favour of Nawaz League. Same is continuously happening with Musharraf...biased and revenge agenda is behind all fake cases against our leader.
We all know it will only end in one way. Lets not waste time Judiciary.
What about Ghazi and his mother supporting terrorist and killing the SSG commandos? Why isn't any case registered against that?