Senators strongly condemn Hamid Gul’s statement

ISLAMABAD: Senators on Friday just fell short of adoption of a resolution of condemnation against ex-ISI chief General (retd) Hamid Gul for allegedly ‘instigating’ the anti-democratic forces to suspend the Constitution to avert what he called a looming civil war in Pakistan.
On a point of order, Usman Kakar, a senator from Balochistan, who belongs to the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), raised the issue of Gul’s interview and alleged that the former general had spoken the language of terrorists and this was in total violation of the Constitution.
The former ISI chief, in an interview, had called for suspending the Constitution with no big changes, saying the country was fast moving towards a civil war and in such circumstances the only way out was that the armed forces of Pakistan should take over.
“The General must not forget that whatever the country is facing today is because of people like Hamid Gul. And he should be tried under Article 6 as he has openly violated the Constitution... what’s the difference between him and the terrorists after his statement as the terrorists also do not accept the rule of law in the country,” he questioned.
Senator Kakar pressed for either passing a resolution against Gul for demanding a martial law or trying to find any other constitutional way out in order to punish him as he had openly tried to ridicule the Constitution. However, Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani, presiding over the session, said that the former General’s remarks must not be given so much importance, adding that passing a resolution would be like giving him undue importance as he was a man of low stature.
PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar appeared upset, who said that he did not even want to mention his (Gul’s) name as it would be an insult to the prestige of parliament, adding that he was the man who had nothing else to do except giving such interviews for the sake of cheap publicity.
Saeed Ghani, another PPP Senator, rose to endorse the views expressed by Babar. “The track record of the former general is self-explanatory as he remained a staunch critic of democracy throughout his life.” Passing a resolution against him, he added, would be an insult to the sanctity of parliament as he was the man who should be treated the way he deserves.
Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), who is also one of leading counsels of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in a treason case, said the military generals in uniforms could be seen holding press conferences what to talk of a retired General. The MQM senator made an obvious reference to a press conference by Director General, Sindh Rangers, Major General Bilal Akbar, who had said that sacrificial hides’ money was being used for criminal activities. The senator questioned that if a political party was involved in such kind of crimes, why no arrests were being made.
APP adds: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah also condemned the statement of Hamid Gul.In a statement, Khursheed Shah said the statement of Gul can be part of a conspiracy against the Constitution and the country.The opposition leader urged parliament and the Supreme Court to take serious notice of the statement as he had no right to speak against the system and the Constitution.