MQM-P, PSP reiterate their support for Musharraf

To show their solidarity and support for former military ruler and president Pervez Musharraf, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and the Pak Sarzameen Party have disagreed with the special court's verdict awarding death sentence to him, claiming that due legal and constitutional formalities were not fulfilled in the process.

The MQM-P and the PSP have both separated from Altaf Hussain-led MQM that had been a key ally of the former military ruler from 2001 to 2008. During the anti-Musharraf movement that initially started by the lawyers’ community, the MQM had staged several rallies in his support.

On Wednesday, the MQM-P sent its two key leaders – Karachi mayor Wasim Akhtar and central leader Haider Abbas Rizvi – to meet Musharraf in person to “inquire about his health”.

The MQM-P leaders prayed for the quick recovery of the former president. Both leaders expressed concern over the verdict given by special court against him in a treason case and assured him of the MQM-P’s full support, said a statement which the party issued on Wednesday.

Musharraf thanked the MQM-P for its support, said the statement. PSP chief Mustafa Kamal, who enjoyed the support of Musharraf when he was Karachi mayor, also expressed its disappointment over the special court's verdict awarding him death, saying that due legal and constitutional formalities had not been fulfilled in the process.

Addressing a party meeting at the Pakistan Secretariat over the current political situation, the party’s central office, on Wednesday, Kamal said that Article 6 clearly states that aiders and abettors will also be charged and prosecuted in the case of high treason but it was not implemented in this particular case.

“During the so-called democratic period, people in the Sindh province are dying of dog-bites and dengue epidemics. These flawed democratic forces had first received the NRO from Musharraf, then took an oath from him and later on gave him the guard of honour on his retirement,” he said.

If the trial against Musharraf is crucial under Article 6, it should be initiated from 1999, as Musharraf's move was endorsed by the then chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry-led judiciary, he said.