Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday cleverly deflected a reporter’s question regarding Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar’s hint at invoking Article 6 of the constitution against elements opposing building new dams.
In a video making rounds over the internet, a reporter can be heard asking the PPP chief for his comment on the CJP’s statement of trying to determine if the scope of Article 6 – applicable in high treason cases – allowed it to be invoked against “opponents of this national cause”.
“Is there a buzz regarding Article 6? That’s interesting… it must be about the [high treason] case against Pervez Musharraf,” Bilawal replies.
The CJP on Saturday had said that those opposing his efforts to build new dams were “traitors and enemies of the state” and could be subjected to trial under Article 6 of the constitution. Meanwhile, former president Pervez Musharraf is also being tried under the said article for subverting the constitution of Pakistan twice and the government has failed to bring him back to the country so far.
Musharraf left the country after winning a legal battle with the federal government over placing his name on the exit control list on March 31, 2016.
Since then, there has been no progress in the case except that the special court has initiated proceedings to confiscate Musharraf’s properties. The spouse, daughter and another relative of the former military ruler claimed ownership of these properties and this issue is also pending before the court.
Interpol has also refused to issue a red warrant against former military ruler.
