ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s top court has summoned former President Pervez Musharraf to appear in court over his 2007 firing of several dozen independent-minded judges. Wednesday’s notice allows Musharraf to send a lawyer in his place.
The case could rattle Pakistan’s political scene at a time when the U.S. wants the nuclear-armed nation to focus on fighting al-Qaida and the Taliban along the Afghan border.
Faced with growing challenges to his rule, Musharraf declared a state of emergency on Nov. 3, 2007, suspending the constitution and dismissing the judges. (It should also be noted that he openly admitted to his actions being illegal and wrong on National television, and that could be evidence against him)
Under pressure, Musharraf lifted the emergency rule and allowed parliamentary elections. The vote brought his foes to power, and they ultimately pushed him to resign.
My good friend firenze once said “which court has the balls to go after an ex-General”, i would like to extend my personal congratulations to him. ex-Dictator turned ex-President Musharraf has been summoned to stand before SC over his illegal firing of judicial staff.
Would he or his lawyer show? I guess we’ll wait and see, he hasn’t really been a law abiding citizen, so i wouldn’t count on it. Miracles do happen though.
about bloody time, but its all thanks to Nawaz Sharif who rallied on to get independant judiciary in order for this to happen.
now i think we ll see some miracles happening. Shukar al Hamdolillah atleast someone has the nerves to call this lunatic to SC and account for his mischeif.
Hopefully one by one cases will drop on him like a ton of bricks, especially the lal masjid case, hope hell drops on him.
I don't think he's going to show though. (I hope he does) Him and "buddy" are cozy in cool streets of London, and maybe they can both teach each other a thing or two about "how to rule from abroad and stay in headlines"..
There goes one!!! Lets see what happens, first time it is n history of Pakistan when an ex-president and ex-army chief has been summoned by SC of Pakistan...Pakistan is changing ( positively)
I know many will feel sorry after this all. I knew it that he will gain his favoritism after he will thrown down.
And those who still are looking to bring him to so said " Salved Justice " they are like Saanp likal ghaya lakeer peeto.. It happen always when a so said "leader" is removed from his / her seat the next start *****ing about him / her to make people busy in thinking about him /her and also to put his / her own current self created problems on that person.
It is a way politics goes almost in every country and to apply it on Pakistani nation is the easiest of all.
Allah show us all the right path and give ability to think before time and not after it.
Yeah, i agree with you guys on this too. Justice should be equally served to both friends and foes. We have a long way to go before achieving that, but this is a good sign though. Even if a meaningless, and a weak one.
Today someone has to courage to call on ex-leader to face his wrongs, tomorrow someone will actually follow through and prosecute, eventually leading to a point where public can literally call to the stand who they think has done them wrong.
it's a healthy thing to have when anyone and everyone can be held accountable. if someone is innocent, it should be an honor for them to show for their innocence and prove it. it will only elevate them in stature before the public, and give 'em bragging rights come time for politics.
^^Thats the case, let them know that they can be called for their wrong doings, i agree it is long journey but every journey begin with single step... this might be the step the common man of Pakistan has awaited for 60 odd years...
Yahoo updated the article, here's more on the same page:
[quote]
Musharraf is currently staying in London with his family. He could not immediately be reached for comment. The next hearing in the case is on July 29.
Wasi Zafar, a law minister during Musharraf's rule, said the retired general could appear before the Supreme Court either through his lawyer or in person.
"If he does not do it, the court can initiate proceedings against him in his absence," **he said.
The former army chief seized power in a 1999 military coup and became a critical, and criticized, U.S. ally following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks that sparked the American-led invasion of neighboring Afghanistan.
In early 2007, Musharraf dismissed the Supreme Court's chief justice, Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry. That triggered mass protests led by lawyers that damaged Musharraf's popularity.
The court managed to bring Chaudhry back, but — faced with growing rancor — Musharraf declared the emergency, tossing out Chaudhry and around 60 other judges. That only deepened popular anger against the military ruler.
Under domestic pressure, and prodding from the U.S., Musharraf lifted the emergency rule after about six weeks, stepped down as army chief and allowed parliamentary elections to take place the following February.
The elections brought his political foes to power, and they ultimately pushed him to resign the presidency in August 2008.
But the fate of the judges, especially that of Chaudhry, has caused fissures among those who came to power.
A coalition government consisting of Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan People's Party and Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N fell apart over the slow pace of reinstating the ousted jurists.
Ultimately, facing escalating lawyer-led protests reminiscent of Musharraf's era, now-President Zardari agreed to reinstate Chaudhry — whom he'd viewed as too political a figure — in March.
**Ever since, there have been rumblings in some corners about whether and when Musharraf would have to answer in court for his actions, and court petitions were filed over the issue.
[/quote]
US not to come to defend Pervez Musharraf: Holbrooke
ISLAMABAD: **US special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke Wednesday said President Pervez Musharraf is now history and that the US will not come to defend him.
Talking to media here, Holbrooke termed Pervez Musharraf’s case as Pakistan’s internal issue and added that the US respects Pakistan’s judiciary and free press.**
He said he had held meetings with Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and ISI Chief.
“I have asked the army leadership to ensure safety of the people returning to Malakand division,” the US envoy told the mediamen.
He described the scourge of terrorism as a real challenge for Pakistan.
Richard Holbrooke said Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are against militancy and that both the leaders find themselves on same page on a strategy to improve Balochistan situation.
He clarified that the US never called for launching a military operation in Waziristan.
Regarding Kashmir issue, he ruled out any arbitration by the US between India and Pakistan.
That is another moral victory for the judiciary and the people of Pakistan!
I was really disappointed when they were taking s moto against musharraf for power theft charges, and ignoring the fact that he committed much heinous crimes such as that illegal emergency he imposed in nov 2007.
Now its true he ran away from Pakistan because his army protection period lapsed, but atleast the trial for his crimes has started and lets see if he man enough to come back and face the music.
I feel that Pakistan Army would try and save Musharraf. If the courts succeed in trying and penalizing an ex-army chief, it would be a very bad omen for army generals dreaming of conquering the country again in the future. I guess Kiyani would advise Musharraf not to return. Army has already lost a lot of respect in Pakistan and if it is obliged to protect Mushy, it would mean more trouble.
^^ No one ( apart from Ch. Brothers) want to carry or associate himself to Musharaf.
Army has already taken lots of bad reputation and they had to make huge sacrifices to get it back, although they have done good job in Swat but if the there is a single hint suggesting army is backing Mushy against the people of Pakistan, then Kiyani's effort to re-build the reputation of Army will be at great risk...
^^ No one ( apart from Ch. Brothers) want to carry or associate himself to Musharaf.
Even the Chaudhry brothers, or badmashes are now trying to distance themselves from Musharraf and have not only blamed him for their election loss but also admitted the NRO was a mistake and apologized to the nation.
Good to see, some actions are taken against that retard Musharaf. Had it been few years later, he could have tried to show certificates of dementia... This idiot needs to be taken care of , so that no one else does the same mistakes he did in future...
Military is bound to come into picture to save him. Wait and see. If not CJ should initiate cases against all military dictators who illegally ruled and passed illegal orders in the country right since partition.
