Former President and Chief of Army Staff, General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf is still occupying the well-guarded Army House 16 months after his retirement from the top slot in the Pakistan Army. According to ISPR, Musharraf is still residing in the Army House because of the security threats against him.
General Musharraf wearing two hats, of Chief of Army Staff as well as President, announced his retirement from the army on November 27, 2007, and resigned as head of state on August 18, 2008. Despite losing both the influential offices, he has not yet vacated the Army House.
According to rules, government servants can retain the official residence only for three months after their retirement. However, it is also a rule in the army that if COAS or any senior general retires from the service, he is given an alternative residence for a period of one year after his retirement; however rules do not allow him to stay in the residence that he is no longer authorised to keep.
According to Lieutenant General (retired) Salahuddin Tirmizi of PML (N), as per military rules, retaining the Army House for more than three months after retirement by any former army chief is illegal and against the rules. In the event that an army chief requires a place to stay after his retirement he can be provided an alternative residence within the military residential area for up to one year after the expiration of his regular service.
General Tirimzi added that occupying of Army House by General Pervez Musharraf is violation of rules and the sanctity of the COAS residence. He said that Musharraf is enjoying facilities of Army House and the reason being cited is security threats against him. The former COAS chief has a luxurious house in Chakshehzad, Islamabad, which is heavily fortified and therefore his continued stay at Army House is not justifiable.
When asked General Tirimzi about his party (PML-N) future plan to have Musharraf vacate the Army House through legal action after reinstatement of the sacked judiciary, he said that his party not only would move the court to get the House vacated but a series of petitions would also be filed in the courts against the illegal and unconstitutional steps taken by General Musharraf.
According to him, Musharraf has undermined the sanctity of the Army House by converting it into political hub during his tenure by holding political meetings there. When these correspondents asked an official in ISPR, he said that the former COAS and President is still residing in the Army House, because of the security threats against him.
He, however, declined to give tentative date as far as shifting of former President from the house is concerned, saying that he would soon shift to his personal residence. A senior official in the Ministry of Interior when contacted in this regard, declined to comment on the issue, saying that it is related to the Army, and ISPR could only comment on it.
He, however, said that the ministry would provide full-fledged security to the former President if he moves to his personal residence located in the Chakshehzad Township. The official added that it is the responsibility of the government to provide security to all and sundry as per his/her requirement.