Cleric murder: Musharraf's plea for permanent exemption rejected

E-Paper | March 08, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Hearing the Ghazi Rasheed murder case against former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, an additional district and sessions’ judge in Islamabad rejected the retired general's application seeking permanent exemption from appearance during proceedings, DawnNews reported.

Additional district and sessions Judge Wajid Ali was hearing the case against Musharraf.

During the hearing, Musharraf’s counsel presented his arguments saying that the former army chief faced death threats, adding that he was targeted in an attack two days earlier as a result of which he could not appear in court.

He said Musharraf sought exemption from appearing in court.

The court granted him exemption from appearance for today’s hearing and adjourned the case to three months.

Whereas, the former president's request seeking permanent exemption from attendance during the case's hearings was dismissed.

Ghazi Rasheed was killed during the Lal Masjid operation which was a 2007 government crackdown on the controversial pro-Taliban mosque in Islamabad. The operation had ended in a bloody eight-day siege killing at least 58 Pakistani troops and seminary students.

The operation, ordered by Musharraf, followed a week-long standoff between the mosque's supporters and security forces.

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osama obaid

Apr 05, 2014 05:20pm

I don't like Musharraf for a lot of reasons. However, people in red mosque were armed terrorist who committed treason and were fully armed. They were not innocent people murdered without warming. It was job of army to protect sovereignty of the country. Without that step there would have been a Red Mosque in every major city of Pakistan!

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haroon

Apr 05, 2014 05:29pm

Looks like Iftikhar Chaudhry and Nawaz Sharif want to blame for all the wrong doings of everyone in Pakistan on Pervez Musharraf.

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Luvpk

Apr 05, 2014 06:03pm

This actually represents the corrupt system... Where criminals like Ghazi are cherished and the Army who protects the country is blamed for killing them...

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Asim

Apr 05, 2014 07:31pm

This is the country where all corrupt Pharaohs are glorified on daily basis by Jahil Quom. This Quom never deserved the most sincere and honest leader Pakistan has ever seen after the death of Liaquat Ali Khan. President Musharraf is in trouble for his unconditional love for this God forsaken Country called Pakistan.

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AJamal

Apr 05, 2014 07:58pm

@haroon: Oh Allah please accept our repentance after punishing us with ex CJ for five years. Ameen.

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AJamal

Apr 05, 2014 08:00pm

@osama obaid: Remember BB had also called for action against those terrorists. Why Bilawal is keeping quiet now?

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Syed Ahmed

Apr 05, 2014 08:07pm

The Maulana's of Lal Masjid has challenged the writ of the government and robbed peoples piece of mind. On public demand Musharraf ordered crack down on arms laden Lal Masjid. He didn't kill any one by himself. Ghazi Rasheed was killed during exchange of fire. Will you put the Sindh's Chief Minister on the mat for death of hundred's of children in Thar?

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Syed Ahmed

Apr 05, 2014 08:14pm

@haroon: The two scoundrels' have joined hands, the third one is in their support. Only boots can fix the trio.

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muhammad

Apr 05, 2014 08:51pm

Cleric or a brutal terrorists ? please first decide on it

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Khan

Apr 05, 2014 09:47pm

Man, he wants exemption from everything!

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Pragmatist

Apr 05, 2014 10:05pm

I wish Musharraf was a little pragmatist and should have taken time to clean up all the mullahs and their supporters when he was in power. The so called Sharif Brothers and their cronies should have been hanged instead of respectfully letting them out. He should have also abrogated the constitution and established a new sensible one. This favor would have created a much pleasant Pakistan today. This may still happen if the God turns with mercy towards this forsaken place.

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fatima

Apr 05, 2014 10:05pm

Hope our judiciary starts to make decisions which are not laughed on by the world.

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Seedoo

Apr 05, 2014 10:44pm

No good deed goes unpunished. This was one of the few good things that Musharraf had done, and he is being prosecuted for this? What kind of signal are we sending to future leaders of Pakistan? Be soft on terrorists, for you might later be prosecuted for killing them.

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indian

Apr 05, 2014 10:45pm

when you ride on the back of a lion, you feel like the greatest and most powerful. You can ride as long as you can hold on. But there is only one problem - when you get off the back of lion the lion kills you and eat you. Now we know why all dictators meet the same fate when they are ousted.

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Muhammad

Apr 05, 2014 10:51pm

I don't understand why the supreme court are siding with Terrorist. The Red Mosque People are terrorist. They were the one forcing people into their own defined Sharia Law, just to show how capable are they regardless of what Islam is about. All of these episodes of Supreme Court handling Musharraf and setting free other Terrorist in the country suggests that the judges of Pakistan are completely unaware of letting the nation into complete chaos.

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Sayyar Khan

Apr 05, 2014 11:08pm

This was the only good thing this Fake Coward Commando did.

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saj

Apr 06, 2014 12:01am

@osama obaid: CLERIC OR TERRORIST ??? They terrorist and they are terrorist and they will remain terrorist.

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Vineet

Apr 06, 2014 02:08am

Being an Indian, I always hate Musharraf for his Kargil misadventure. However, in this case, he is being framed wrongly. The case of Red Mosque was similar to Golden Temple. What Musharraf did, was his constitutional duty. He saved his nation from fanatics. I believe that in this action, he had support of most of the people in Pakistan.

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Aslam Farooq

Apr 06, 2014 06:41am

Musharraf should not be tried for this. He did this in best interest of Pakistan. Imam e Kaba was also present in Pakistan before this operation and he had not supported terrorist of red mosque. Also, maulana abdul aziz ghazi was so impressed from government actions that he wore burqa when he surrendered to our security forces. He still wears it today.

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Apr 06, 2014 10:15am

@Asim:Perhaps you are living in a fairy land where nasty people like Musharraf who sold innocent people to gain US favor look like angels to you. You need to know that Musharraf has blood of innocent people on his hands.

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