Different political parties on Thursday reacted sharply to former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf (Retd) act of fleeing from the court to evade arrest after Islamabad High Court (IHC) dismissed his bail application, as PML-N urged caretaker Prime Minister to immediately appoint a law officer to initiate case against Musharraf under article 6 of the Constitution.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) central leader Siddiqul Farooq while talking to Business Recorder said that his party fully supports the IHC decision ordering Musharraf's arrest. When asked whether the PML-N still standby by its earlier demand to try Musharraf under article 6, he said; "Yes, we strongly believe that Musharraf subverted the country's constitution twice. He must be tried under article 6 of the Constitution".
The PML-N leader also urged the caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso to immediately appoint a law officer and register a case against Musharraf under article 6. To another question, he said after fleeing the court after bail cancellation, Musharraf is now technically an "absconder", adding, he [Musharraf] and all those who helped him to avoid his arrest, should be booked immediately.
Secretary Information, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Dr Shireen Mazari said that PTI had a clear stance that every citizen is equal in the eye of law, adding that Musharraf has broken the law and he should face the consequences. She urged the caretaker government to arrest him [Musharraf] and action should be taken against him under the law.
Earlier, PTI chief Imran Khan twitted on his official twitter page saying "Want to reiterate that PTI believes strongly all are and must remain equal before the law. For the powerful to flee from justice is unacceptable." A spokesman of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) said that Musharraf should be brought to justice for his past 'crimes' and the caretaker government should take every step to ensure that justice is delivered.
He said that the interim government should implement orders of the IHC and arrest Musharraf, adding that the former military dictator subverted the constitution and derailed the democratic process. However, according to official Facebook page of Pervez Musharraf, "the former President is filing an appeal in the Supreme Court of Pakistan against this ill-conceived decision of Islamabad High Court. We expect this unwarranted judicial activism, seemingly motivated by personal vendettas since his return to Pakistan to participate in the upcoming elections, will cease and the Supreme Court, without prejudice, will immediately grant necessary relief following precedence and the Rule of Law; the absence of which will cause mockery of the nation, can result in unnecessary tension amongst the various pillars of State and possibly destabilize the country.