Speculations regarding the return of former president and military dictator Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf to Pakistan due to his “frail” health echoed in the Senate on Wednesday as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle expressed their opinions on Musharraf’s homecoming.
The former army chief, who ruled Pakistan for nine years, made the headlines again, after he had expressed his wish to spend his remaining years in Pakistan. The sources close to the ex-chief had said that Musharraf wanted to move to Pakistan at the earliest. His family said it was impossible for him to recover.
The report was followed by a statement by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif wherein he urged the PML-N government to allow the dictator to come back. It may be noted here that Musharraf had come to power after toppling the government of Nawaz Sharif.
Similarly, the Pakistan Army spokesperson expressed support for the return of the former chief during a press conference on Tuesday.
Starting the debate, Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, referring to reports of bringing back Musharraf, said, “There are talks regarding allowing Musharraf to come back to Pakistan…Mian Nawaz Sharif has also issued a statement…The country and the Constitution suffered grave injustice but our hands are tired…we are practically slaves.”
He recalled that Musharraf was the absolute ruler of Pakistan for 10 years. He “abrogated the Constitution, attacked the judiciary… a former chief justice was dragged by his hair,” the JI lawmaker said.
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) ruling is there, he said referring to a ruling by the late PHC Chief Justice Waqar Seth. Justice Seth had sentenced Musharraf to death in a treason case.
During the session of the Senate today, most lawmakers were sympathetic to the plea. PPP leader Yousaf Raza Gillani said if Musharraf wanted to come back then Pakistan is his home and added that “they do not oppose” his return.
However, he added that a similar treatment should be meted out to others as well.
The PPP senator said, “We cannot decide [on his return] these decisions will be made elsewhere. When he flew out of the country, could you stop him…and now when he will be coming back, would you be able to stop it?”
“I had forgiven Musharraf when he was still in Pakistan,” the PPP leader added.
JUI-F leader Abdul Ghafoor Haideri too endorsed his return. He added Musharraf was fighting for his life and should be allowed to come back. “It would not be appropriate to create hurdles in his return.”
PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui said a person on their deathbed should not be stopped from returning. “If not Pakistan, where else will he go,” he said, adding that if the law and the Constitution were strong then let them chart their course after his return.
