ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday said people who once gave guard of honour to the former military ruler are now protesting over his departure from the country.
In a statement, Nisar took a jibe at Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), accusing it of having double standards. While criticising the PPP for protesting the exclusion of former president Pervez Musharraf’s name from the exit control list, he said, “During its five-year rule, they maintained friendly ties with Musharraf, but now are protesting over his travelling abroad.”
The interior minister said the investigating committee in 2009 had pointed out Musharraf’s alleged involvement in Benazir Bhutto’s murder, however, the then PPP government didn’t bother to pursue any case against the former military ruler. “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 over his travelling abroad,” he asked. “Musharraf’s name was excluded from ECL following the decision of the apex court,” he maintained.
Musharraf undertook four foreign trips while the PPP was in power, said the minister, adding that it was the party which fulfilled national reconciliation ordinance (NRO)-type friendship with former president during its tenure.
He went on to say that during its five years regime, PPP simply ignored Benazir Bhutto murder case and also 2007 emergency matter, adding that the PPP government was rather wishful to continue with Chief Justice Dogar and the PCO court.
The interior minister said after 2008 general elections, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was the only party which opposed general pardon to Musharraf, otherwise Asif Ali Zardari had convinced all other parties. He said PML-N also exerted pressure on Musharraf’s impeachment and as a result he had to resign. Otherwise, PPP had no plan to show exit door to Musharraf. He said in reality, Asif Ali Zardari used to convince Nawaz Sharif to ignore mistakes of General (r) Musharraf.
Nisar criticised the previous government of PPP and said during its five-year-long tenure, Musharraf’s name was not included in ECL despite existence of an FIR against him.
“It is quite astonishing PPP leaders have forgotten all their wrong doings, and, in fact, through such negative moves PPP is now trying to restore its declining political reputation,” he said, adding that people of Pakistan have a strong memory and would not forget PPP’s negativity. He said such negativity on part of PPP would result in further declining of their political reputation.
He strongly deplored the elements engaged in unnecessary criticism over departure of Pervez Musharraf and described it as ‘plain hypocrisy and show of their dual standards’.
Nisar said the record of PML-N is very clear as it was the party which opposed when Special Court allowed General Musharraf to travel abroad. Similarly, he said, when Sindh High Court allowed Musharraf, PML-N opposed that decision as well. All this continued for two years, he said, and added Supreme Court has now issued its decision and in light of which, Musharraf’s name has been removed from the ECL.
The statement by interior minister came a day after a close aide of General (r) Pervez Musharraf claimed that travel restrictions on the former military ruler were lifted as a result of an ‘off-shore deal’ struck with the government.
The claim by Ahmad Raza Kasuri, the chief coordinator of the All Pakistan Muslim League (AMPL), negated the government’s version that Musharraf’s name was struck off the ECL in compliance with the Supreme Court orders.
“At 2.00 am on Thursday, my phone rang. It was General Sahib [Musharraf] on the line. General Sahib took me into confidence and shared details of the agreement [struck with the government] before his departure,” Kasuri said.
As a first step towards its implementation, Attorney General of Pakistan Salman Aslam Butt did not argue against the Supreme Court order of lifting travel restrictions on Musharraf, according to Kasuri. The agreement also envisaged the government would wrap up the treason trial, he said. “I will disclose contents of the deal at an appropriate time,” he added.
