Lawmakers in the Upper House of parliament on Thursday demanded action against former president Pervez Musharraf for his crimes against constitution, democracy, political leadership and the nation.
They also demanded the caretaker interior minister inform the House how Musharraf escaped from court to his residence and why a former general could not be arrested if an elected prime minister of the country could be sent to jail.
Speaking on points of order, the senators claimed that double standard existed in the country in violation of the constitution that said every Pakistani was equal before the law.
“We have been talking of the rule of law and independence of the judiciary. But today we saw it is easy to send an elected prime minister to jail but a former general and military dictator cannot be arrested,” remarked senior PPP Senator Raza Rabbani.
“In Pervez Musharraf’s case it is a test of time. When the court had ordered his arrest, why was he not arrested? It is a question mark,” Rabbani added.
He charged Musharraf of involvement in the killing of Benazir Bhutto and Nawab Akbar Bugti, abrogating the constitution and putting judges under house arrest.
“Musharraf is a usurper who twice abrogated the constitution. He was announced to be arrested but he safely fled in connivance with state institutions. The caretaker government was responsible to arrest him and the interior minister should inform the House why the government had not fulfilled its obligations,” Rabbani said.
PPPP Senator Farhatullah Babar said he did not hold the caretaker government responsible for his escape. “I have been looking at the state apparatus. There are two laws and double standards in the country. If we could not mend it over time, how we can hold the caretakers responsible for these double standards?”
“The caretaker government is as helpless as the civilian governments used to be. This country had two laws, one for the civilians and other for the security personnel no matter if they are retired,” Babar said.
He said the double standard was not the fault of the previous government and the caretakers “but it is collective accumulation that double standard exists in the country. Had there been Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, they would been arrested immediately.”
He also accused Musharraf of twice holding the constitution in abeyance and introducing 17th amendment and LFO and demanded the House resolve to immediately remove all banners and posters of Pervez Musharraf in the capital.
PPP’s Saeed Ghani demanded action against Musharraf and trial of those who assisted him in escaping.
He also demanded action against those who openly claimed to have abrogated the constitution.
PML-N’s Mushahidullah Khan said the list of crimes of Musharraf was much long as he killed Akbar Bugti and Balach Marri, trampled the constitution and democracy, handed over Aafia Siddiqui to the US, fuelled terrorism resulting in killing of 50,000 people, ruined the country’s economy and attacked Lal Masjid.
He feared that if Musharraf escaped the court premises today, he would be flown out of the country soon. “If justice is not done in this case, the future of democracy will be doubtful.”
He called for standing with the court and strengthening the judiciary.
“Confining Musharraf to his residence will be against the norms of justice. He needs to be arrested. Let us take this step for once and take it now.”
ANP’s Haji Adeel said the law of land should prevail and sanctity of court orders must be upheld.
He mentioned ongoing attacks against his party leadership and workers and demanded withdrawing Frontier Constabulary deployed for security of VIPs in the capital and other cities.
Senate Chairman Nayyer Hussain Bokhari directed the ministers present in the House to ensure availability of the interior minister on Friday to reply to the questions raised by the members.
The House was later adjourned to meet today (Friday) morning.
