Mush exit: Nisar says PPP ‘political drama’ hypocritical

• Nisar deplores elements engaged in unnecessary criticism of Musharraf’s departure
• Says PPP, Musharraf were hand-in-glove during their tenure; PPP leaders only showing false outrage now

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, while criticising those protesting the exclusion of former president Pervez Musharraf’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL), said people who once gave guard of honour to the former military ruler are now staging a political drama.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) called for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign during protests in various cities and towns in the country against the government’s decision to let the military dictator General (r) Pervaiz Musharraf leave the country.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Nisar took a jibe at PPP — accusing it of having double standards and showing ‘plain hypocrisy’ — saying, “During its five-year-rule the party maintained friendly ties with Musharraf, but now it is protesting over him travelling abroad.”

The interior minister said the investigating committee in 2009 had pointed to Musharraf’s alleged involvement in Benazir Bhutto’s murder, but lamented that the then rulers did not dare to take action against Musharraf.

“Is this some kind of a joke or what, that the party which presented guard of honour to Musharraf is now staging a political drama,” Nisar said.

Nisar maintained that it was not his party’s decision but the Supreme Court’s verdict which had lifted the travel ban on Musharraf.

“Musharraf’s name was excluded from ECL following the decision of the apex court,” Nisar said.

While the Supreme Court had upheld the High Court’s decision to strike Musharraf’s name off the list, it had said in its verdict that if the government wanted to place his name on the list while Musharraf faced treason charges in court, it had the authority to do so.

HEADS MUST ROLL, PPP PROTESTS:

The PPP staged several rallies in the country on Sunday evening to protest against the government for allowing Musharraf to travel abroad while a high treason case and other cases are still pending in the courts against him.

The Women wing of PPP on Sunday held a protest demonstration in front of National Press Club Islamabad against the government’s move.

Addressing the protesters, PPP leader Farhatullah Babar alleged that Musharraf was allowed to go abroad under a secret deal. He said the government did not pursue serious charges like high treason against him in the courts. He demanded of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down immediately.

Babar called on the government to come out clean on “whether Musharraf’s sudden departure was the result of pressure from undisclosed quarters or some deal”.

Until we know the truth behind the mystery we will not be able to stop dictators from subverting the constitution and getting away with it, said the senator.

“This is disturbing as it will only encourage potential dictators to subvert the constitution in future also,” Babar said.

The protesters were carrying placards and banners which carried slogans against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Gen Musharraf.

They condemned the ‘secret deal’ between the two and called them close buddies, who played enemies in public.

Babar termed it the darkest day for democracy when the nation helplessly watched the worst dictator the country had ever seen being flown out without any resistance.

Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari chaired a high level party meeting on the departure of former president Pervez Musharraf.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah attended the meeting.

POT CALLING THE KETTLE TRAITOR:

Nisar criticised the previous government of PPP and said that during its five-year-long tenure, Musharraf’s name was not included in ECL despite existence of an FIR against him.

The minister went on to say that PPP, which is now opposing the departure of Gen Musharraf, remained friendly towards him and did not even talk about him during their tenure.

“Musharraf went on four foreign trips while the PPP was in power,” the minister said, adding that it was the party which benefitted hugely from National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) which came because of their friendship with former president General Pervez Musharraf during his tenure.

The interior minister said that after the 2008 general elections, PML-N was the only party which opposed giving general pardon to Musharraf, otherwise Asif Ali Zardari had convinced all other political parties.

Nisar said PML-N also exerted pressure on Musharraf through their call for his impeachment. As a result, Musharraf had to resign. Otherwise, he said, PPP had no plans to show General Musharraf the exit door. He said that during its five years tenure, PPP simply ignored Benazir Bhutto’s murder case and the 2007 imposition of emergency, adding that the PPP, was instead desirous of keeping Justice Dogar and the PCO court.

He said that in reality, Asif Ali Zardari used to try and convince Nawaz Sharif to ignore the mistakes of General Musharraf.

“It is quite astonishing that PPP leaders have forgotten all their wrong-doings so soon. In fact, through such negative moves, PPP is now trying to restore its declining political reputation,” he said, adding that the people of Pakistan, having a strong memory, would not fall for their negativity.

The minister said that such negativity on the part of PPP would damage their political reputation even further.

Nisar said the record of PML-N is very clear – it is the only party opposed Special Court’s decision to allow General (r) Musharraf to travel abroad. Similarly, he said, when the Sindh High Court allowed Musharraf to leave, the government opposed that too.

All this continued for two years, he said, and added that the Supreme Court – the last court for appeals – had issued its decision and in light of this, Musharraf’s name had been removed from the ECL.