ISLAMABAD:
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday acknowledged that it was in hot waters and the entire thing had a connection with former military dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.
“This is a fact that the problems the PML-N is facing are because of its decision to try Gen Musharraf for violating the Constitution,” said the PML-N Deputy Secretary General and Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal at a press conference.
Responding to a question regarding the political pressure on the PML-N from several opposition groups, the minister said his party had no objections if cases against Musharraf were to be withdrawn.
“But in that case a constitutional amendment is to be introduced, which should make it clear that there are two laws in the country: one for the generals and the other for common man,” he added.
However, if there is only one law, then everyone should be answerable to courts and Musharraf should prove his innocence there, he added.
Commenting on the recent statement of former prime minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani that both the PML-N and PPP were part of a deal to give safe exit to Musharraf, he said: “All this noise has given the impression that friends of Musharraf are once again active.”
Clarifying his party’s position, the minister said that if there had been a deal, Musharraf would have got exemption from the trial.
Iqbal, however, said the PML-N had nothing against the army as an institution and that the army is a professional institution which believes in rule of law. “We are not taking revenge from any institution,” he added.
He said his party had nothing personal against Musharraf and that he should be dealt with in accordance with the law. Iqbal, however, did not give a clear answer when asked whether Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would reach out to political leadership to have a consensus on national issues.
“Those who have sacrificed for democracy will not become part of any conspiracy to derail the democratic system,” he said.
The minister hit hard at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s plan to hold a rally on August 14. “This all is being done to sabotage the progress the country has achieved in last 14 months,” he said.
The PML-N leader went on to say that the PTI had been doing all this to divide the nation on Independence Day and to divert attention from the military operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Wazirstan.
“Imran Khan chose to hold a rally at a time when Pakistan is fighting against terrorists. Imran chose this time perhaps because he is against the operation and wants to create a situation detrimental to the success of the operation,” he added.
He said Imran Khan should have dedicated all his resources and time for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who left their homes for the sake of Pakistan ‘but is once again leaving for United Kingdom’.
“Imran should tell us with whom he meets in London, who is financing his rallies and which forces sent Dr Tahirul Qadri from Canada to Pakistan?” he questioned.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2014.
COMMENTS (15)
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How typical of PMLN and PPP! Blame all their failures on Musharraf. PPP looted the country and had zero performance so they blamed it on Musharraf's legacy. Now PMLN is doing the same. Is Msuahharf responsible for their lack of vision and performance, did he tell them to divert Qadri's plane or to massacre innocent women and men? In comparison Musharraf instead of using PMLN and PPP as excuses went on to develop the country, its business, infrastucture and education. These so-called democratic governments cannot come close to the so called-dictator's performance so all they can rely on are lame excuses.
@Saud: pls also provide us with some text. thanks
Thanks, Mr. Mirza for your appreciation. "This is the bad option among all the worse." Did you actually mean that running the system then not, is a "better option" "among all the worse?" Kindly clarify. Thank, again. Regards.
@Paki boy, This is what PMLN has achieved in last 1 year. https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zjEKw9UCa0sk.kwnVud0l4zwA
@Alternatives: A mature and pragmatic post, thanks for that. I agree that army is not the solution in fact it has been the problem. Army dictators have always ruled with the worst political lota of the country including Convention Muslim League, Jam Sadiq, Choudhries, and likes. All the traitors of other parties usually join these dictators and no new name emerges. Let the current setup complete its term and in the next elections a national govt would emerge. Elections are a sieving process and after a few better people would emerge from grassroots. This is the bad option among all the worse. Thanks and regards, M
Yes there are two rules for PML-N too. Has Nawaz Shareef paid off the money they owe to the banks and they are WAPDA's biggest defaulters. Besides this, Shahbaz Shareef should have resigned after innocent women were killed recently. PML-N is just power hungry and they want to weaken the army so that they could our country. All their wealth is abroad. Why would they care about this country?
Alternatives to the present govt are no good either. IK was a hope but his performance in KP leaves much to be desired. PPP, ANP, have all been in govt but could not deliver. Army cannot weld together the diverse political/ethnic/religious groups, indeed no one can. There are questions about Qadri about his lying to get asylum and whether he got welfare undeservedly. So all in all there is a leadership deficit and disabling vacuum. So the lesser evil is to let the system run and see if it can season some good politicians and if the system continues there is a possibility that the corrupt and the incompetent would eventually get weeded out. Chaos and lawlessness are not not going to lead to stability or progress.
Musharraf is one big problem. But PML-N must not proceed against those who put the Rawal Pindi madrasah and mosque on fire otherwise the agitation against it in various forms is likely to get worse.
Please let us allow the courts to decide the matter. Isn't the case sub judice and the people should stop commenting upon this matter. This case will put an end to Military takeovers that occur in Pakistan with impunity. The perpetrators of this activity should be punished to set an example to others. Let Constitution of Pakistan prevail.
Did the PML(N) ask for an amendment in Article 6,for registerering a treason case and making the special court on the SC orders?,when the Article clearly states that it is only the Federal government which can do so.And be sure the political turmoil will not go off even if you withdraw the case.It is due to repeated lies and extremely poor governance,which PML(N) is not ready to rectify.
Musharraf Trial needs to be taken to its logical end. This blackmailing must Stop!!
Yes totally agree with PMLn the establishment will not tolerate any trial of a general at any cost.............even if it meant destabilizing the country and causing huge financial and economic loses. They only want to save eachother, so that every upcoming general can conquer the country when ever he likes.