Shiffa Yousafzai |
While Ahsan Iqbal, the Interior Minister of Pakistan threatened to cancel Musharraf’s National Identity Card and Passport, on the other hand he went furious and rejected the NAB court’s recommendation to put names of five members of Sharif family on the exit control list. In fact, the Additional Secretary, Sher Afghan, who had forwarded the summary and the recommendations to put five members of Sharif family on ECL has been immediately transferred. Interior Ministry’s reluctance to put names of Sharif family members on ECL is speaking volumes of PML-N’s hypocrisy.
It was ignorant of Maryam Safdar ranting on the television that Musharraf was allowed to leave the country without being tried and her father Nawaz Sharif was also sarcastic when he said; is there any judge courageous enough to try generals? If she felt so strongly about him being tried then she should have had the courage to stop him. And who are they really saying this to? Was it not their party ruling the country then? Â
Pervez Musharraf served this country fighting several battles; be it the ones with India as a commando, or be it the ones that brought the man face to face with terror and Taliban. PML-N should not humiliate a world renowned Pakistani General just for the sake of personal gains and vengeance.
Its not that Musharraf was not tried or was given any leverage because of army’s affiliation with him. He had been on the exit control list for more than two years and fought his case at all levels. Musharraf appeared before the courts for about 15 times in Pakistan since the case for treason against him started in 2013 and the General rejected the charges against him in 2014. Musharraf only left the country with government’s permission and it was explained by Chaudhry Nisar, the then Interior Minister of PML-N government.
While Ahsan Iqbal compared former President and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Pervez Musharraf with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and said that now Musharraf should also come and face the judiciary like Nawaz Sharif, the Minister of Interior forgot that Musharraf did already appear before courts and fought his case.
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The comparison between both Gen. Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif is not just. One was the four star general of Pakistan Army, the other was the unlucky ousted Prime Minister disqualified on the charges of deceitfulness and dishonesty. One was the person responsible for the safeguard of Pakistani territory in the times when Pakistan was in havoc, the other one just landed Pakistan into a cyclone of instability and uncertainties – one of those that recently came our way was Pakistan’s appearance on the grey list and one of the reasons behind this move was absence of strong Pakistani narrative against India’s in US.
The comparison is just plain stupid. The General tried defending Pakistan on every single forum possible whether it was his interviews with American and Indian journalists or his invitation to India to resolve the Kashmir conflict at UNGA. On the contrary, Nawaz Sharif stayed mute when he had the ample opportunity of making noise about Kulbhushan Jhadav, the Indian RAW agent captured in Pakistan.
Damaging country’s economy and reputation internationally, by saying that imposing extra-constitutional emergency in 2007 in the country is a greater felony while other offences are merely misdemeanors.
Ahsan Iqbal’s ministry of Interior violated the due process of law by not putting Ishaq Dar’s name on the ECL despite NAB’s recommendations. Ishaq Dar ran off to the UK and had sent his medical certificates instead, to avoid the court case; however, the medical certificates by NHS England were turned down by the NAB court. Later, he was also declared a proclaimed offender by Islamabad High Court. And yet, Ahsan Iqbal is reluctant to put his name on ECL. Moreover, he is still officially the Finance Minister of Pakistan, not only this, Ahsan Iqbal’s party PML-N, gave Ishaq Dar a Senate ticket as well and he became the senator, though he didn’t turn up to take oath.
Previously, two former Prime Ministers of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani and Raja Pervez Ashraf both from Pakistan People’s Party were also placed on ECL by the interior ministry on the recommendations of National Accountability Bureau. Yousaf Raza Gillani was placed on ECL in the unlawful appointment of OGRA’s chief and Raja Pervez Ashraf was placed on ECL in rental power project case.
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Musharraf although admitted that he left because he felt he was not going to get justice and at that time he could smell vengeance. He also said now the circumstances have changed and he hopes that he will get justice, so he confirms that he will return back to Pakistan given that he is provided with foolproof security and is allowed to travel out of the country whenever he needs to.
Interestingly, PML-N spokespersons are justifying corruption, money laundering, putting country’s national security at stake, damaging country’s economy and reputation internationally, by saying that imposing extra-constitutional emergency in 2007 in the country is a greater felony while other offences are merely misdemeanors.
The comparison is just plain stupid. The General tried defending Pakistan on every single forum possible whether it was his interviews with American and Indian journalists or his invitation to India to resolve the Kashmir conflict at UNGA.
Almost every single minister of PML-N at different occasions have proven that their loyalties are not for the state but for the Shah of Raiwind – Nawaz Sharif. Whether you evaluate the decisions made by Ishaq Dar about the economy of the country or made by the top leadership of PML-N about supporting an absconder to occupy a seat in the senate, or whether it is a decision of making an unnecessary amendment in the clause of finality of Prophethood – every minister has proven to be the loyal of Sharifs.
While the honorable courts feel Musharraf needs to come back and be tried for treason, I would also request them to take action against the real traitors who have time and again with their words and actions proven that they hold venomous and malignant intentions for the country.
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For those who cannot guess who am I referring to, I would take this opportunity to say that Altaf Hussain should be the first one to be extradited from the UK and the second should be the Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar. Well this should have happened long ago. But its never too late.
I feel Gen. Musharraf shouldn’t be called a traitor. He, by confirming his return back to Pakistan have once again proven that for him its still ‘Pakistan First’. Moreover, I feel, if Imran Khan could collaborate with Asif Ali Zardari claiming that his move was in the best interest of the country then there is no harm if in future Khan collaborates with Gen. Musharraf given that the circumstances are suitable.
I feel no shame to be writing this today that Musharraf’s democratic dictatorship or so-called dictatorship was far better than today’s dictatorial dynastic democracy. Though everything has pros and cons and what I feel Musharraf shouldn’t have done, was NRO. He should have wiped the corruption out of Pakistan’s political system because he got the ample time and opportunities to cleanse the country. And he shouldn’t have let these corrupt politicians return. Whether people understand his controversial decisions or not, they certainly never wanted these looters to come back.
Had he been the real dictator he would have dealt with Nawaz Sharif the way Gen. Zia ul Haq dealt with heroic Bhutto. I hope you all would know about Zia’s regime. That is what was a ‘dictatorship’. Pervez Musharraf served this country fighting several battles; be it the ones with India as a commando, or be it the ones that brought the man face to face with terror and Taliban. PML-N should not humiliate a world renowned Pakistani General just for the sake of personal gains and vengeance.
Shiffa Yousafzai is a TV presenter & producer with Hum TV. She is an International Alumni Ambassador for Manchester Metropolitan University, UK, where she studied Multimedia Journalism. Earlier, she graduated with business and marketing at Air University, Islamabad. She had been vice-president Air University Cultural Society; She is a singer and has performed in cultural events. Shiffa could be followed on twitter @Shiffa_ZY and on facebook @Shiffa Z. Yousafzai. The veiws expressed in this article are authors own and do not necessiraly reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space.Â