Pakistan’s former military leader Pervez Musharraf passes away
Former chief of Army Staff and President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf passed away on Sunday at American Hospital in UAE after a prolonged illness, reported Daily Pakistan.
Former chief of Army Staff and President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf passed away on Sunday at American Hospital in UAE after a prolonged illness, reported Daily Pakistan.
Pak news portal The Namal had earlier reported that Musharraf had been put on a ventilator as his health had deteriorated.
On Thursday, Musharraf had moved the apex court, seeking to overturn the Islamabad-based special court's December 17, 2019, verdict, which sentenced him to death in the high treason case.
He ruled: “We direct the law enforcement agencies to strive their level best to apprehend the fugitive/convict and to ensure that the punishment is inflicted as per law and if found dead, his corpse be dragged to the D-Chowk, Islamabad, and be hanged for three days.”
The Pakistan army has great institutional pride, and over the years, by remaining in the driver's seat, it has nurtured contempt for the civilian government. The Army's response to the new and unexpected challenge from the judiciary should be observed with interest. Weak and effete political parties, perhaps, will not be able to take advantage of the situation, and assert themselves vis-à-vis the army.
The special court was empowered to proceed even in his absence under Section 9 of the High Treason Act, 1973.
Earlier Saturday, Musharraf's lawyer Salman Safdar claimed that the former president, who has been facing a high treason case, would reach Pakistan on May 1 and will appear before the special court the next day.
There would be no question of using the type of heavy weapons, helicopter gunships and aircraft in the province without tearing Pakistan apart.
Pervez Musharraf also welcomed the action against the Jaish-e-Mohammed, saying it had tried to assassinate him twice in December 2003.
He said Pakistan had been mulling over decision to get a loan from the IMF, but any major assistance from the lender would have put additional burden on the nation.
