- COAS send ‘quite message’ to PM asking him to allow former president to leave country in ‘larger interest of nation’
- Nawaz abruptly abandons PML-N senior leaders’ meeting on Musharraf to meet COAS
- Majority of PML-N leaders oppose removing Musharraf’s name from ECL
A ‘quiet message’ from Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif made Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif delay a decision on the fate of former dictator General (r) Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan Today has learnt.
After the communiqué made Tuesday, the consultation process with senior leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was abruptly delayed halfway and it was decided that the premier would have a one-on-one meeting with the army chief to seek his advice over the issue.
Sources privy to the development told Pakistan Today that the army chief had contacted Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, with whom he has a good relationship, and asked him to convey to the prime minister to allow Musharraf to leave the country as soon as possible.
However, the prime minister, the source added, has asked the army chief to visit him and discuss the matter personally. For the same purpose, the prime minister abruptly left the consultation process halfway and delayed the decision till Tuesday night, source said.
“COAS General Raheel Sharif has conveyed to the prime minister that concerns were ‘all time high’ among the khakis about ongoing media trial of General Musharraf, which according to him was ‘badly affecting’ the morale of the armed forces,” the source said, adding that the negative impact was affecting top officers to jawans equally.
The source said that before departing for Prime Minister’s House, General Raheel also met a delegation of some retired army officers, among whom former Multan corps commander Lt Gen (r) Shafqat Ahmed was prominent.
“The retired generals asked the army chief to use his influence to give a safe passage to Musharraf as his media trial was badly affecting the morale of the army men. They opined that the ongoing trial of former army chief was a part of a well conceived and well orchestrated plan to demoralise the army which was fighting for the cause of the nation against terrorists in mountains, valleys and cities across country,” the source quoted the retired officers as saying to the army chief.
The source added that though there was no planned meeting of army chief with the prime minister on agenda but the meeting later took place and General Raheel had used his helicopter to go for the surprise and unscheduled meeting with the premier.
“The one-on-one meeting was held briefly before a meeting on national security issues which was followed by the meeting between the prime minister and the chief of army staff,” the source added.
WILL MUSH BE OFF ECL?
Musharraf’s counsel Dr Farogh Nasim has sought removal of Musharraf’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL) for his treatment abroad while the former president also wishes to see his ailing mother in UAE. Moreover, some ‘friendly countries’ are also reportedly backing a safe exit for the retired general.
The Interior Ministry is yet to decide on whether it will remove Musharraf’s name from the ECL giving rise to speculations.
Earlier, the prime minister chaired a meeting of his close aides to discuss whether Muharraf should be allowed to travel abroad.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, Information Minister Parvez Rashid, Minister for Planning & Development Ahsan Iqbal, PML-N Secretary General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, PML-N KP chief Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Senator Mushahidullah Khan and others were among the PML-N leaders who attended the meeting.
According to a source, majority of the PML-N leaders opposed removing Musharraf’s name from the ECL citing that punishing the former military ruler would ensure that there would be no future violations of the constitution. PML-N leaders said allowing Musharraf to leave the country would be construed as a deal and it would be difficult for the government to defend this move.
The source added that a recommendation was also put forward which called for Musharraf’s name to be removed from the ECL if he apologises to the nation.
The special court indicted Musharraf in the high-treason trial Monday and dismissed his petitions seeking permission to travel abroad. In its order the special court stated that Musharraf’s name had been placed by the government on the ECL and only the government could remove it.