ISLAMABAD: The controversy over retired Gen Pervez Musharraf’s failure to attend hearings of his treason trial echoed in the Senate on Friday as a senior PPP lawmaker called on the army to clear its position on the issue.

Senator Farhatullah Babar said the silence of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) over a statement of Gen Musharraf that the army was against the idea of dragging him in courts on charges of high treason was creating doubts in the mind of people.

He said it was being hoped that the ISPR and the government would come up with their reactions on the matter but that did not happen. He pointed out that in the recent past the ISPR had issued a rejoinder to a political statement by Jamaat-i-Islami chief Munawar Hasan.

“This has given birth to doubts that the army as an institution is against the trial of Musharraf.”

It was suspicious that instead of appearing before the court to face the trial on Thursday, Gen Musharraf landed in the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology, Mr Babar said, adding that an explanation was required.

Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq said the army was not an institution which was detached from the government. He said a statement issued by the defence minister in this regard was enough. He said the army had no role to play in the treason case of the former president.

Haji Adeel of the Awami National Party (ANP) alleged that the government was taking more interest in Musharraf’s trial than in combating terrorism. He quoted different offers made by the government, including the one for bringing Gen Musharraf’s mother to Pakistan if he wanted to see her.

The ANP leader said the government’s policy on combating terrorism was vague as it was not clear whether it wanted a dialogue or an all-out war with militants. He termed the blockage of Nato supply as illegal and regretted that the government was playing the role of a silent spectator on the issue.

He said that because of the blockage of Nato supply the Afghan Transit Trade had come to a halt.

Mr Adeel criticised the army and said that more loss was incurred in the terrorist attack on Kamra base than in a full-scale war. “Sensitive places like the GHQ and offices of the ISI were targeted but the army appears to be blind to them,” he remarked.