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House divided on Musharraf's trial
[Pak Daily Times] Lawmakers in the National Assembly are divided over the high treason trial of former military dictator Pervez Musharraf, as the opposition parties PPPP and MQM want the trial to start from the events of October 12, 1999 when he staged a military coup to topple the democratically elected government of Nawaz Sharif. The two parties have even suggested going as far back as the era of first military dictator, Ayub Khan.The announcement by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan about the constitution of a four-member FIA team for investigation against Musharraf stirred up a heated debate in the House. The MQM lawmakers created a pandemonium when the Speaker switched off the mike of their parliamentary leader, Dr Farooq Sattar, to cut short his speech on the issue. The government side contended that the move has been prompted by the order of the Supreme Court and it would not defame the institution of army. It said Pervez Musharraf should not be considered representative of the whole institution. PPPP President Makhdoom Amin Fahim who initiated the debate on Article 6 of the constitution supported the government's decision to try Musharraf for his November 3, 2007 imposition of emergency in the country. However, he urged that the trial should start from October 12, 1999 when an elected government was overthrown by him. "We will not accept this double standard of the government. Is the sin of October 12, 1999 been forgiven?" Fahim questioned. He said that the government's decision to try the dictator for only the November 3, 2007 emergency showed that it wanted to save some individuals. He urged the government to move prudently on the matter, saying it is going to be a historic event as a military dictator will be tried under Article 6 of the constitution for the first time since 1947. Nisar Ali Khan said that it would be unjust that the army is maligned for the actions of Musharraf and said that the government does not want that to happen. He rejected the claim of Amin Fahim that the government had double standard. Meanwhile, MQM's Dr Farooq Sattar said that he has castigated the government for taking shelter of the Supreme Court on this issue and noted that it is the prerogative of the government, not the court, to initiate the case against Musharraf. Farooq said that all those who validated the October 12, 1999 actions are also not exempted from this unconstitutional action and pointed out that this article is wrongly being implemented. Shaikh Rashid Ahmed of the Awami Muslim League (AML) called for the trial of all the dictators under Article 6 and all those who abrogated the constitution since 1956. He said that the incident of October 12, 1999 had resulted into the dissolution of the National Assembly and noted that an elected prime minister was arrested. Posted by: Fred 2013-06-28 |
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