Pakistan’s Coming Civil Military Standoff?
Civil Military relations in Pakistan have always been testy. While the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) completed the first five year term by a civil government in the country surviving as per some by a hairs breadth, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) seems to be testing waters. This is evident by the move by the government to try former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf for treason for imposing emergency rule in 2007 which is likely to pose new challenges to civil military relations.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan who is a close confidant of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced on 17 November that the government was planning to start proceedings against Musharraf. Khan was quoted by the Pakistani media thus, “Following the judgement of the Supreme Court and a report submitted by an inquiry committee, it has been decided to start proceedings against General Pervez Musharraf (for treason) under Article 6 of the Constitution.” “It is happening for the first time in the history of Pakistan and the decision has been taken in the national interest,” Khan was reported most significantly in a press conference that was televised live.
Supreme Court Chief Justice was requested to set up a tribunal of three high court judges to start the proceedings as per Khan. General Musharraf who is on the Exit Control List has applied to proceed to Dubai to visit his ailing mother. As he was given bail by an Islamabad district court in the Lal Masjid storming case it was believed that a deal has been worked out to facilitate his exit even though he faces more charges in cases related to death of Benazir Bhutto in 2007, of Akbar Bugti in 2006 and detention of judges in 2007.
In a follow up of Interior Minister’s statement the Ministry of Law and Justice Secretary Zafarullah Khan submitted a letter to the Supreme Court registrar for the constitution of the special court under the Criminal Law Amendment (special courts) Act 1976. “Federal government has decided to invoke the power vested in it under section 4 of the Criminal Law Amendment (Special Courts) Act 1976 (Act No.XVII of 1976 to establish a special court to try General (retired) Pervez Musharraf for various offences falling under section 2 of the High Treason (Punishment Act, 1973 (Act LXVILLL of 1973,” said the letter reported in Pak media.
Civil Military relations in Pakistan have always been testy. While the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) completed the first five year term by a civil government in the country surviving as per some by a hairs breadth, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) seems to be testing waters. This is evident by the move by the government to try former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf for treason for imposing emergency rule in 2007 which is likely to pose new challenges to civil military relations.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan who is a close confidant of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced on 17 November that the government was planning to start proceedings against Musharraf. Khan was quoted by the Pakistani media thus, “Following the judgement of the Supreme Court and a report submitted by an inquiry committee, it has been decided to start proceedings against General Pervez Musharraf (for treason) under Article 6 of the Constitution.” “It is happening for the first time in the history of Pakistan and the decision has been taken in the national interest,” Khan was reported most significantly in a press conference that was televised live.
Supreme Court Chief Justice was requested to set up a tribunal of three high court judges to start the proceedings as per Khan. General Musharraf who is on the Exit Control List has applied to proceed to Dubai to visit his ailing mother. As he was given bail by an Islamabad district court in the Lal Masjid storming case it was believed that a deal has been worked out to facilitate his exit even though he faces more charges in cases related to death of Benazir Bhutto in 2007, of Akbar Bugti in 2006 and detention of judges in 2007.
In a follow up of Interior Minister’s statement the Ministry of Law and Justice Secretary Zafarullah Khan submitted a letter to the Supreme Court registrar for the constitution of the special court under the Criminal Law Amendment (special courts) Act 1976. “Federal government has decided to invoke the power vested in it under section 4 of the Criminal Law Amendment (Special Courts) Act 1976 (Act No.XVII of 1976 to establish a special court to try General (retired) Pervez Musharraf for various offences falling under section 2 of the High Treason (Punishment Act, 1973 (Act LXVILLL of 1973,” said the letter reported in Pak media.
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Civil Military Standoff?
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