Religious leaders welcome verdict, but caution against possible response from army

LAHORE: The religious leaders welcomed the death sentence to Gen (Retd) Musharraf in high treason case but expressed caution against possible response from army, saying judiciary proved itself independent but put the country at a crucial juncture.

Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Senator Sirajul Haq said the death sentence to former military dictator Parvez Musharraf in high treason case is a historic decision that will ensure the supremacy of the constitution and strengthen the democracy by closing the doors of martial law in future.

“Indeed it is great decision in 72 years history and will have far reaching impact on the future politics of Pakistan, and also strengthen the people’s trust on the country’s judicial system. He demanded the government bring Musharraf to Pakistan and also called for holding accountable all those who had allowed Parvez Musharraf to go abroad and those who had backed him in his marital law. He said crimes of Musharraf against the country were countless and the biggest was throwing the country in an endless war against own citizens on US pressure. Siraj warned PTI government against taking any more steps to save the skin of Parvez Musharraf, saying Imran Khan’s government will further lose its credibility if it tried to defend the former ruler.

JUI-F central leader and former Senator Hafiz Hussain Ahmad said the epoch making judgment not only changed the 72-year course of the country by practically showing that judiciary was independent but also put the present state of affairs at a critical juncture. Talking to The News, he said apart from whether judgment is right or wrong since lawyers and supporters on both sides would delve on it, but judiciary displayed ‘better late than never’, since until yesterday nobody could have imagined a military dictator was punishable. About the ISPR’s reaction expressing grief and anger of the armed forces on the judgment, Hafiz Hussain said a forceful reaction looked less likely since ‘anger is on one side while the grief is on the other.’ He recalled that several years back when Gen Musharraf was on his way to Supreme Court for hearing of treason case his motorcade was suddenly turned to Cardiology hospital of armed forces as he was said to have complained some heart pain. But after one week it was learnt that the pain was in his back. Hafiz Hussain demanded that both Gen Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif must return to the country to defend their innocence since they could find the best lawyers here.

JUP president Pir Ijaz Hashmi said sentencing a military dictator General to death is no doubt a history-making judgment and proved judiciary’s independence, but it pushed the country at a crucial juncture.

Jamiat Ahle Hadith president Senator Sajid Mir while terming the death punishment to Gen Musharraf for high treason a courageous, momentous decision, demanded that death sentence should be executed to realise the 72-year dream of constitutional, civilian supremacy in the country. Talking to the media he said the judgment would close the doors of military dictators hijacking democracy in future. He demanded that military spokesman should accept the court verdict. Sajid Mir condemned the PTI government for thwarting the pronouncement of court judgment till the last moments. He asked if politicians could be hanged then why not the guilty military generals.

Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) spokesman Noorullah Siddiqi said if army chief could be traitor then who is patriot in the country. Talking to The News on behalf of PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri, he asked if Gen (Retd) Musharraf was alone in his high treason or other characters were also abetting him. He said death under high treason should have been awarded to Musharraf when superior judiciary was ratifying his Emergency and allowing him to amend the constitution. He said the army spokesman’s response to the judgment could create problems for Pakistan’s democratic future. He said Musharraf should have been heard in the case and court could have waited for few more weeks and months where ten years had already been wasted.