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SHC declares Musharraf ineligible for Parliament

Dawn.com Published February 14, 2015
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KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Saturday declared former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf ineligible for Parliament membership, DawnNews reported.

The three-member SHC bench, led by Chief Justice Maqbool Baqir, said that Musharraf did not meet the criteria set in Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.

The bench further said that decisions taken by Musharraf led to Pakistan’s image being hurt. The detail verdict has been released by the court.

Musharraf had returned to Pakistan in March 2013 after nearly four years of self-imposed exile to contest the May 11 general election.

Election officials had barred him from running for the National Assembly, effectively derailing his attempts to regain a place in politics by standing at the polls.

Read also: Musharraf banned from politics for life

Pakistan

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A concerned citizen
Feb 14, 2015 10:38pm
Have we had any political / military leader who has not hurt Pakistan's image?
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Su6ra
Feb 14, 2015 10:49pm
Not only should Mushy not count for parliament, his comments should not count for anything. No one should give any press to this man who sacrificed his countries democratic values to further his self-serving desire for dictatorship. He shouldnt be allowed to sit on this imaginary high pedestal and pontificating when all that he is is just a self-serving fraud.
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Javid
Feb 14, 2015 10:55pm
Abslutely right. Banned him for Life. Honest people have nothing to do in the parliament.
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Rizwan
Feb 14, 2015 10:59pm
What a joke! As if existing politicians esp prime minister meets the criterion.
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Sayyar Khan
Feb 14, 2015 11:02pm
Please let him run for parliament so he knows his true value. Which is ZERO.
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Cyrus Ho
Feb 14, 2015 11:13pm
Why does he bother?
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Kirther
Feb 14, 2015 11:16pm
Pakistan's political canvas is littered with political and religious parties representing various factions is there any politician in the country who can satisfy the requirements of Article 62 and 63. Yes efforts should be made to inculcate democratic norms in this society but then action should not be taken in isolation all those including the sitting Prime Minister should be barred from holding any public office, how about Lahore massacre, is the Chief Minister of Punjab an angle.
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asif
Feb 14, 2015 11:18pm
I do not support this person but does anyone is parliament meet the criteria set in article 62 and 63. What a big joke this is on us.
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IBN E ASHFAQUE
Feb 14, 2015 11:22pm
But Mr. NS and 10% are eligible to be elected what travesty of justice in Pakistan.
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Khan
Feb 14, 2015 11:31pm
Zardari and Nawaz Shareef are!!!!!!!!!
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zafar
Feb 14, 2015 11:36pm
Yes, and all criminals in the assemblies can run the country into the ground with the blessings of the courts. What a joke! "Image of the country". Musharraf is one Pakistani other than IK who is on International media standing up against the anti-Pakistan stand of the west. Listen to some of his recent interviews.
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Zafar
Feb 14, 2015 11:38pm
What about the majority of the elected lot in the parliament ? Majority of them don't meet this criteria either. Courts are quite biased I must say.
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Ahmed USA
Feb 14, 2015 11:40pm
What a shame..."decisions taken by Musharraf led to Pakistan’s image being hurt"...what about other politicians...probably they took the literal meaning of "justice is blind"...
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Waseem
Feb 14, 2015 11:41pm
These judges need to be disqualified as judges. Their verdict is insane. Musharraf is ineligible, but thugs and national money looters are?
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Muhammed ali
Feb 14, 2015 11:45pm
Allah o Akbar.....what a great joke....we have some of the biggest thieves Pakistan have ever seen sitting in parliament, yet here is leader that was 2nd to non and they want him dead and buried. ...
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Shahid Akbar, New York
Feb 14, 2015 11:46pm
This is one of the biggest jokes. What was this bench drinking when making the decision? How can a an army chief, commando, president, and man who fought wars against internal and external enemies of Pakistan can hurt image of Pakistan. Just looked at the economic indicators during General Saheb's era, you will notice the graph was heading north. Stop depleting national assets. More and more people making a fun of these kangaroo courts.
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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan
Feb 14, 2015 11:46pm
What? If he doesn't meet the criteria under the so called article 62 and 63 then who does qualify? An Army Chief and President who has ZERO corruption cases on him. Who served the country honestly through out his life. He made Pakistan 11th growing nation in the world and he doesn't qualify? I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Our entire judicial system needs some major overhauling.
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SGKhan Karachi
Feb 14, 2015 11:47pm
Good decision by the SHC. This guy deserves it.
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rana
Feb 14, 2015 11:51pm
to be parlimentarian you have to be corrupt otherwise you are not elligible.
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Shan Kazmi
Feb 14, 2015 11:55pm
Well, the courts in Pakistan do NOT necessarily impart justice at all times. In Pakistan a person indicted of murder may either be sentenced to death or may be e quitted by the same panel of judges. Sometimes they eat their own words. Therefore, in the instant case it is a political vendetta which made the judges decide against Musharraf.
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Em Moosa
Feb 14, 2015 11:57pm
Ha Ha Ha he is the only one in the country who does not meet the criteria to be eligible under article 62 and 63 and whole parliament is full with angels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When does our courts will give justice and talk justice. I think never.
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saif
Feb 15, 2015 12:01am
Pity the nation & its courts... All the super corrupts & criminals have the right to b elected but only the ones who dont have such record.
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Syed Ahmad
Feb 15, 2015 12:02am
Avery good decision.
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sid
Feb 15, 2015 12:02am
@SGKhan Karachi Yes for being a great leader. Down with the Judiciary!
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I. Ahmed
Feb 15, 2015 12:10am
No wonder people are demanding military courts. Very soon Pakistan will be famous for reverse judicial system. All dishonest people in Pakistan will be treated as honest (like members of assemblies, mafia groups, terrorists et al) and all honest and law abiding citizens will have to get a judgement from our courts that they are dishonest. Who says the system doesn’t work, it does, but in the reverse!
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aman
Feb 15, 2015 12:17am
I guess article 62 states that "A person is ineligible to run for parliament if he/she does not have any case registered against him/her". Article 63 states " A person can become eligible if he/she has corruption cases registered against him".
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james zatonski
Feb 15, 2015 12:19am
The decision shows that judiciary has become a joke. Absolutely no morals, no sense of justice - corruption rules.
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fawad
Feb 15, 2015 12:23am
Great news, I hope he stops embarrassing Pakistan by spilling the secret, to gain mileage for election and being relevant. He might have done many good deeds, but few wrong decisions (taliban etc), ruined the country and has long lasting effect internationally too. Country will take decades to recover from that and mend relationship with neighbors.
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Rashid
Feb 15, 2015 12:30am
Unfortunately, He does not have one very important qualification required to be a politician. He is a honest person.!!! lacks dishonesty, The art of telling a very convincing lie,
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Rashid
Feb 15, 2015 12:34am
Unfortunately, Musharraf gets disqualified because he is honest. !!
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AW
Feb 15, 2015 12:34am
Judiciary in Pakistan is laughable - Far away from independence, competency etc. etc. Where do we go to get justice -it is scary
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Nazir
Feb 15, 2015 12:44am
What a justice...Criminals, liars, looters are eligible but not a person whose tenure was the best for pak.
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mumtaz
Feb 15, 2015 12:51am
Wow, what a decision. Pakistan ka Allah hi hafiz hai.
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Em Moosa
Feb 15, 2015 12:54am
@Su6ra Democracy and democrats? No civilized country in the world can afford these so called democrats who are taking the country to down hill. If you can afford then congratulations to you and your family, Either you are getting some benefits from it or something else but think about the whole nation who will not going to survive but only these democrats who are looting and transferring their money abroad.
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George
Feb 15, 2015 12:55am
Musharraf is the ONLY one!
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Doc PhD USA
Feb 15, 2015 12:56am
What a mockery. Is there any true judgement by the most injust system in the whole world? No one believes in this system anymore,
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naveed sialkot
Feb 15, 2015 12:56am
Musharaf's tenure was one of the golden era in the history of Pakistan. Surely, we don't deserve a leader like musharaf.
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AHMED
Feb 15, 2015 01:07am
@Su6ra Well said. Musharraf has done as much damage to Pakistan as Zia. This is why the military generals in Pakistan should never again be allowed to pretend they are are above the law.
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AHMED
Feb 15, 2015 01:09am
@naveed sialkot Are you really that ignorant of the damage done to Pakistan by Musharraf during in stay in power? Lying at every step, letting terrorists enter Pakistan and establish bases here, thus turning Pakistan into a lawless state.
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Raja
Feb 15, 2015 01:19am
Not surprised. Nawaz Sharif's Judges sitting in SHC.
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Khurram Nawaz
Feb 15, 2015 01:23am
What Justice, Pakistan legal system has brought in Pakistan is evident, the ball is now PM court and he know how to defend himself or take it easy as there is no Justice for him from the front door!
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Zak
Feb 15, 2015 01:23am
The most eligible candidate, declared ineligible , by the dis- honourable court. I suppose, this court thinks Zardari-Nawaz are most eligible!
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Shazad
Feb 15, 2015 01:28am
Another brilliant decision by our justice system. They don't have courage to give verdict against corruption, killings, Mafias but they decide in a blink of eye when it is decision against Mush - Local body Election - Took action against th TTP - Attacked by these People several times - HEC - Nadra - New channels - Telecom revolution
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Nasir-USA
Feb 15, 2015 01:30am
That is what is expected from corrupts courts, they need someone corrupt like them in the parliament.
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raj
Feb 15, 2015 01:34am
Forget everyone else and give Imran Khan a chance.
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Ayesha
Feb 15, 2015 01:38am
@Su6ra When your USA visa comes or trip to West you will change your decision
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S Chaudhury
Feb 15, 2015 01:39am
This is exactly why Pakistan is in this situation. Corrupt judges/Judiciary brought this country to its knees Can these judges qualify under article 62? What a joke these bunch of idiot judges has been?
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UmerKhatab
Feb 15, 2015 01:40am
How did he hurt the image of Pakistan??? Oh let me guess, I forgot there were many reasons, he didn't steel, he didn't call for senseless Dharnas, open media outlets, allowed free journalism, let jahil lawyers march, didn't kick CJ into jail, developed country's image and revenues, stood against Militants, Taliban and Lal Palace Mullah, got rid of the biggest traitor Bugti, didn't give out his family ministries like candies, his kids didn't abuse his powers. Wow! i think he should be stripped out his Pakistan's citizenship.
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Irshad. Khan CAN
Feb 15, 2015 02:01am
There is got to be some thing wrong with our Judiciary, SHC declared former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf ineligible for Parliament membership but it is blind to see all corrupt politicians including Nawaz Sharif who are in the Parliament. It is sad to say that people in Pakistan have lost faith on Judiciary.
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Quresh
Feb 15, 2015 02:02am
Mr. Chief Justice Maqbool Baqir, Musharraf is better then zurdari and nawaz, zurdari and nawaz are eligible for election. So ridiculous.
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ubaid khan
Feb 15, 2015 02:03am
@Su6ra 100% agree
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khan saheb
Feb 15, 2015 02:08am
Thats a proof judges are blindfolded
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Maqsood Bhai
Feb 15, 2015 02:12am
The sad part is with lawyers showering murderer like Mumtaz Qadri with roses and judges declining to listen to Qadri's case on religious grounds they are making a laughing stock of themselves. Judgments are supposed to be unbiased and based on points of law. I am not a lawyer so may not fully appreciate the technicalities of Musharraf's case. Their Lordships are expected to be neutral and supposed to listen to cases without fear or favour but given their standoff with Musharraf during 2007 most would disqualify themselves from his case on grounds of association with lawyers movement for return of Chief Justice.
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Asim Ahmed
Feb 15, 2015 02:30am
Let me give you a news here to the commenters here. The court didn't say that all the politicians are angels, it just said the Musharraf is not qualified on basis of some articles of constitution. Can you figure the difference? Do you care about the constitution? Probably not, but how can I blame you because you haven't seen a democracy work itself out.
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Norozkhan
Feb 15, 2015 02:54am
It is now impossible for any honest person to get justice in Pakistan from the present Judiciary. Our Judiciary forgets that they are also being watched by the world.
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reality bites
Feb 15, 2015 02:56am
These courts and judges will out do each other to please the TTP and terrorists. Meanwhile they want to throw flower petals on misfits like Mumtaz Qadri, the governor's killer. Look at the current line up of parliamentarians, how eligible yet clowns. Musharraf is at least ten times better than the sharpest parliamentarian there.
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Omer
Feb 15, 2015 03:04am
Now thats a very good decision, a slap for military dectators
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Faruk chowhdry
Feb 15, 2015 03:12am
I'm 100% sure he is much better than PM Nawaz, and Zardari&co !
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Abdul
Feb 15, 2015 03:25am
As always Musharraf zindabad.
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Rashid
Feb 15, 2015 03:26am
' Image was hurt'? Pakistan presided ECOSOC(UN)-2005; Chairman of G-77. The "Dictator" gave mouth to media. GDP went up to 8.96% from4.6%(PPP Rule). Installed Local Governments. Opened 81 new universities. Created new jobs around 8.00 millions, just to mention few reforms. We want this :Dictator: back- legally eligible or no.
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Masood Khan
Feb 15, 2015 03:53am
It looks like IFTIKHAR CHAUDHRY still rules the Supreme Court.
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salman
Feb 15, 2015 03:57am
His only enemies are lal masjid sympathizers
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justice
Feb 15, 2015 04:04am
Good .Bush ka chamcha. he is responsible for the turmoil in pakistan. He should be behind bar..his tenure was worse than zia and ayub......
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kaka
Feb 15, 2015 04:18am
Right decicsion by HEC, he does not deserve to be in parliament.
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not surprised
Feb 15, 2015 04:22am
these token judges shouldnt be there as they are a black spot on pak Judiciary.
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shahzad
Feb 15, 2015 04:30am
@Kirther if both Articles were enforced in spirit then only new born babies will be eligible to contest elections.
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Ghaznavi
Feb 15, 2015 04:38am
@Su6ra Musharraf was far better then the democratically elected Ali Baba and 40 Thugs! Just if you don' t remember people celebrated his take over. At the time the country was at the brink of insolvency. Agreed democracy is better way of running a state but it must be genuine and not build on fraudulent elections. This man deserves a break. There are many who should be barred from politics before him.
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Z khan
Feb 15, 2015 04:39am
@A concerned citizen yes we have leaders who did not hurt our image. Jinnah, Liaquat, Suravardi, Molvi Tamizzudin, Bhutto, Benazir, Shaukat Aziz, Asghar khan, mufti mahmood, Fakhr Imam, begun Fatima jinnah, begun Rana Liaquat ali khan and a host of others.
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Z khan
Feb 15, 2015 04:40am
@Ahmed USA bring them up on charges. Your approach is ridiculous. It like when a thief is caught he pleads that you should catch all others before catching me.
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Z khan
Feb 15, 2015 04:42am
@Kirther the whole idea behind democracy is diversity. What you consider litter is actually being inclusive, i.e. we allow everyone to form a political party and express their ideology.
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Z khan
Feb 15, 2015 04:44am
@IBN E ASHFAQUE yes they are. They did not over throw an elected government, and they have never been convicted.
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Hugh Slaman
Feb 15, 2015 05:08am
This is an entirely ridiculous decision, and is of a piece with the politicized nonsense we have seen coming out of our judiciary. May Allah support General Musharraf and overturn this insanity against him.
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Naji
Feb 15, 2015 05:21am
A corrupt society can support only Nawaz Sharif, Zardari, Zia ul Haque, Ejaz ul Haque, Marium Nawaz Sharif, people. Musharaf has not a single record of corruption during his 50 years of service for Pakistan.
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MAK
Feb 15, 2015 05:22am
Ironical, our political govts have been travesty of democracy & the country had to be rescued by the army quite rightly (happening even now), the judiciary trying to regain its integrity singles out & slanders a patriot who tried to harness the impetuous politicians,I am sure history will exonerate him once the prejudiced have withered & sensible milieu prevail.
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maher ihsan
Feb 15, 2015 05:24am
what a joke 62 and 63 90% of our member don't fit on 62 and 63 and only Musharraf is ineligible .and by who Sindh high court the most corrupt province.
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Syed Ahmed, Canada.
Feb 15, 2015 05:28am
Do most of the parliaments under the cover of restraining orders meet meet the criteria set in Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution. Let's be honest, do Chief Justice Maqbool Baqir and two others themselves meet the criteria set in Articles 62 and 63?
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Z
Feb 15, 2015 05:31am
it was not about anybody else for the court. You please go to court about NS and AZ and the rest and 'present argument'. and then let us see what court says.
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Syed Ahmed, Canada.
Feb 15, 2015 05:46am
@Ahmed USA You have hit the bull.
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saeed
Feb 15, 2015 05:56am
Our courts and politician fear him so much. What if they allow him and he wins?
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malick
Feb 15, 2015 06:10am
What about Choudhary, did he hurt Pakistan in Election 2013 through ROs?
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Asif
Feb 15, 2015 06:26am
What a joke !
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dipak
Feb 15, 2015 06:31am
he is not even a good soldier.he is cheater and has down pakistans image on international stage as he did kargil misadventure stabbing india behind keeping the whole country in darkness even his fellow generals. threatening india for n.weapons as if such weapons are like toys.he doesnt know the impact. he is responsible for present crisis. he encourage jehadis who are now damaging country internally. we are surprise still he is allowed to speak whatever he like.
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JUSTICE
Feb 15, 2015 06:43am
It should be the other way around, these Sind High Court Judges who be ineligible to pass any judgment. Ask these corrupt judges if they ever run back ground check on any other political parties whether they also violated article 62 & 63, specially mr Zardari and Nawaz Sharif
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Salman
Feb 15, 2015 07:06am
All the corrupts and looters can run for the parliament and an ex-chief of army staff and president is not eligible. What a joke! This justice system has become a laughing stock.
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Aziz USA
Feb 15, 2015 07:13am
Thereby, the court in this regards proved to be absolutely incompetent and void of exercising any cognitive process in application of fundamental judicial principals. The SHC not only violated the constitution but made a mockery of jurisprudence and universal principals of justice. What Law school did these so called learned judges graduated from!
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Masood A. Syed
Feb 15, 2015 07:16am
Does SHC know how many fake degee holders are in the National assembly and in the Pakistan Govt. ? May be they should find out ! just in PIA there are more than 30% people working had fake degrees ,Bravo SHC,Bravo ,Jie Sindh !
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Moin Kamal
Feb 15, 2015 07:20am
Our Judges are most corrupt and lousy in the third world nations. Our Lawyers are looters. Our Pakistan is a mess. Let us sell to UAE and they will run better.
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Sami
Feb 15, 2015 07:49am
What a joke! Our judiciary is as corrupt as our politicians. This is the price our nation has to pay for a person who is honest and non-corrupt. Shame on our judiciary.
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Human
Feb 15, 2015 08:05am
@A concerned citizen Gen Ayub Khan.....though the difference is that he fought elections and then become the president
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excalibur
Feb 15, 2015 08:07am
Kangaroo Courts what next
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MSAlvi
Feb 15, 2015 08:12am
In my 78 year life time, I found Musharraf the best leader Pakistan had. The SHC decision is ridiculous. Those judges should read these comments on their judgment and be ashamed. The country's judgment is against the judges. They must resign or get fired.
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MSAlvi
Feb 15, 2015 08:23am
This is the most ridiculous decision I have ever seen by any hgh court or supreme court in any country. These judges have no common sense. Time has come that the army should remove this government and have new elections. There is more awareness in the public now, and I think they will elect the right people this time. The 'Zarb-e Azb' alone is not going to help the country much. The problem is with the politicians.
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Ibrahim
Feb 15, 2015 09:01am
Another poor decision by the Kangaroo courts. What a travesty of justice!
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Riaz
Feb 15, 2015 10:54am
@khan saheb Decisions against our wishes are bad. Courts are only fair when their decisions are in our favour, irrespective of the evidence and justice.
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khanm
Feb 15, 2015 10:56am
Does anyone in our political arena meet the criteria set in Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.????Our criteria for deciding what's good and what's bad is very fickle, especially in this country. set aside your so call constitution, In the real world in which we live, you always have to choose between evils. And in choosing between evils, you have to have moral criteria for how to make those choices. unfortunately we don't have any moral either...
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shamain
Feb 15, 2015 11:29am
Right decision. Totally inept for politics and a liar. Led us into current mess by allowing foreign intel agencies operatives into the country. he was literally american bootlicker . had america asked him to cut his head and present in a platter he woulda done that.
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Azmeen
Feb 15, 2015 12:40pm
This dictator deserved that.
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Hanif Bhaty
Feb 15, 2015 10:40pm
Musharraf an honest sincere dedicated Pakistani is being harressed . On what basis Zardari and Nawaz Shareef have been not been disqualified yet. Are they HOLY COWS.
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