"If former military dictator Pervez Musharraf is not tried under Article 6 of the constitution and the federal government fails to do so, the demand for mid-term elections by the people of Pakistan would be justified", said PML-N leader, Senator Zafar Ali Shah, here on Tuesday.
Addressing media at Supreme Court, the PML-N Senator said Parliament has failed to perform its political obligations, whereas, the apex court completed its job in this regard. To a question regarding revelations by former officials of intelligence agencies, he said the move is aimed at diverting attention of the nation from the demand of Musharraf's trail.
He termed it a campaign to damage the image of PML-N leadership. Her referred to the statement of the Prime Minster Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and said Chief Executive of the country had admitted at the floor of the house that trial of Musharraf was not possible; therefore, "I step forward and filed the petition for the same."
He maintained that filed the petition for trial of Musharraf in his personal capacity without consultation the party to carry on his stance he adopted after October 12, 1999 military take-over, as he was the first person who dared to challenge the military coup by Musharraf.
He said that he would file his petition seeking the apex court's directives to the government to initiate criminal proceedings against former military dictator Pervez Musharraf under the charges of high treason, on Wednesday after removing the objections. Earlier, SC Registrar had returned the petition raising some objections, saying SC was not a proper forum for such plea. In addition, the petitioner had no locus standi to file such petition as he was not an aggrieved party.
Zafar Ali Shah said that he had prepared the petition after removing the objections, however, he could not file the petition on Tuesday as court's time was over. Earlier, on August 22, Shah filed the petition through advocate A.K. Dogar and requested the court to order the federal government to initiate proceedings under the High Treason (Punishment) Act of 1973 against General Musharraf.
However, soon after filing of the petition, the PML-N disowned the petition by clarifying that it was the party's considered view that such a move should be initiated in parliament. This was the second such petition filed before the Supreme Court against General Musharraf (Retd). Similarly, on July 30, the court had turned down a similar request of Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHBA) seeking initiation of treason case against Pervez Musharraf. The Chief Justice had held that the apex court was not a 'proper forum' and left the matter to the Parliament.
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