ISLAMABAD: The PPP distanced itself from former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s opposition to a trial of former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf, declaring it was in favour of his trial under Article 6.

“Gen Musharraf is himself responsible for the situation he is facing today. When he had himself decided to end the understanding and return to the country despite opposition by the military as well, he will now have to face the trial (under Article 6),” Qamar Zaman Kaira, the information secretary, told Dawn on Saturday.

Mr Gilani kicked up a controversy on Friday after he said that talks held with the establishment in 2008 had led to the understanding about Gen Musharraf’s resignation and going abroad. Mr Gilani claimed that the PML-N was also part of the negotiations held with the establishment to persuade Gen Musharraf to step down instead of facing impeachment proceedings.

Related: Musharraf resigned under deal, says Gilani

Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani addressing media on Friday

Opposing the government’s move to try the former president under Article 6, Mr Gilani had termed the PML-N’s “present conduct” on the issue of Gen Musharraf not correct. “It should keep in mind the details agreed upon with the establishment.”

Qamar Zaman Kaira objected to the term “deal” used by the media and said there was an “understanding” between four parties, including the PML-N, ANP and JUI-F, that after his resignation Gen Musharraf should be allowed to leave the country.

Mr Kaira, who had served as information minister in the Gilani cabinet, claimed that there had been no understanding or even discussion on the issue of trial of the former military dictator under Article 6 at that time. He, however, criticised the ruling PML-N for what he called taking shelter under the Supreme Court’s verdict while holding the trial of the former army chief for imposing the emergency on Nov 3, 2007.

“Holding the trial of Gen Musharraf is a constitutional obligation of the PML-N government,” he said, questioning the defensive stance adopted by the PML-N that it was trying the former army chief on the court’s orders.

Similarly, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah and Farhatullah Babar, spokesman for PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, also refuted Mr Gilani’s claim that the PPP had entered into a deal with the military establishment on the issue of Gen Musharraf.

“There was no deal with anyone about the so-called safe passage for Gen Musharraf,” Mr Babar told Dawn.

He said a committee comprising senior leaders of the PML-N and PPP had been set up to prepare a charge-sheet for Gen Musharraf’s impeachment in parliament. The committee, he added, included Ishaq Dar and Ahsan Iqbal of the PML-N and Raza Rabbani, Sherry Rehman and he himself from the PPP.

“If you see media record of those days you will find press statements by the members of the committee on the work it was doing. The committee painstakingly finalised a comprehensive charge-sheet against Gen Musharraf for impeachment proceedings in parliament under Article 47 of the Constitution,” Mr Babar said, adding that a copy of the charge-sheet was still available.

Related: PPP had asked PML-N to give ‘safe passage’ to Musharraf, says minister

Almost simultaneously, he said, the four provincial assemblies had unanimously adopted resolutions calling for Gen Musharraf’s impeachment. At that point, he said, the stage was set to convey to Gen Musharraf a sombre message through one of his confidants that homework and teamwork to impeach him had been completed and there was no going back.

“It seems that Gen Musharraf clearly read the writing on the wall. Only a miracle could save him from imminent and sure impeachment. He chose to resign and leave the country,” he said.

Slightly differing with Mr Babar’s viewpoint, both Khurshid Shah and Qamar Zaman Kaira, however, claimed that an understanding had been reached with the establishment that Gen Musharraf should be allowed to resign and leave the country, instead of facing an impeachment.

At that time, Mr Kaira said, Gen Musharraf had the powers to dissolve the assembly by using Article 58-2(b) of the Constitution and he also had a favourable Supreme Court under “PCO judge” Abdul Hameed Dogar.

“There was no Iftikhar Chaudhry at that time. And Musharraf could have done anything to derail democracy once again,” Mr Kaira said, adding that it was the best decision at that time to let the former president resign and leave the country in the best interest of transition of democracy.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2014