During fiery speeches in the National Assembly on its first day after Gen Musharraf’s resignation, MPs, mainly from treasury benches, demanded that Musharraf be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution for its subversion.
The possible departure of Musharraf from the country for life abroad dominated the house proceedings, as Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi set aside regular business and allowed members to debate the issue on private members’ day.
Musharraf’s detractors said the former president committed serious crimes, abrogated the constitution twice, destroyed all institutions including the judiciary, imposed emergency, dismissed and detained sixty judges last year; seriously jeopardised the federation by launching military operation in Balochistan and tribal areas of NWFP, and compromised sovereignty of the country.
“This man must not be allowed to go scot-free just because he once happened to the army chief,” Khawaja Saad Rafiq said.
Most speakers echoed his views and noted that while politicians have been tried, hanged and humiliated by the military general, no army ruler has been punished for committing more heinous crimes.
PML-N lawmaker Khalida Mansoor demanded that the government make nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan the next president. But opposition members from pro-Musharraf PML-Q pleaded for an end to political vengeance. Attiya Inayatullah and Doonya Aziz, also from PML-Q, said Musharraf is gone and the nation should now look ahead to tackle most serious challenges it is facing, including rising prices, power shortage, terrorism, misrule and corruption.
However, PML-Q MNA Akram Masih Gill appreciated Musharraf’s steps to safeguard the rights of women and minorities. “First undo the National Reconciliation Ordinance and then hold impartial accountability,” he said while referring to the indemnity extended to PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari and others.
Most members, including those belonging to the PML-Q, called for early restoration of judges to ensure independence of judiciary. They also lauded the services rendered by Musharraf for progress of the country and economic uplift of the people.
But one time ally of the disgraced ruler, the Mutthida Qaumi Movement (MQM), maintained a discreet silence for the second day of an inconclusive debate and some of its members opposed any further talk on the issue at the cost of other business of the house.
