Cleric murder case: Non-bailable arrest warrant issued for Musharraf
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ISLAMABAD: A local court in Islamabad on Thursday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf in a case pertaining to the murder of former Lal Masjid cleric Ghazi Abdul Rasheed.
During today's proceedings, counsel for the former president moved an application in the court requesting complete exemption for Musharraf from appearing in the court as he was not well.
An 11-member medical board constituted by the Sindh government to ascertain whether retired Gen Pervez Musharraf was able to travel to appear in court.
Know more: Musharraf undergoes medical check-up
Additional Sessions Judge Wajid Ali Khan rejected the exemption plea and issued a non-bailable arrest against Musharraf over his failure to appear in the court despite repeated summons.
The judge also cancelled Musharraf's surety bond worth Rs100,000 which was submitted in the previous hearing.
The hearing of the case was subsequently adjourned to April 27.
Musharraf's counsel had previously questioned the jurisdiction of the court as a case regarding Lal Masjid is already pending in Supreme Court. He had also requested exemption from appearing in court for this case.
Also read: Court issues arrest warrant for Musharraf in Lal Masjid case
In 2013, police had registered a case against Musharraf over the alleged murder of cleric Rasheed and his wife during the Lal Masjid military operation.
Musharraf faces a string of court cases dating back to his 1999-2008 rule, including the death of Ghazi, one of more than 100 people killed after Pakistani troops stormed the Red Mosque in Islamabad on July 10, 2007.
He faces treason charges over his imposition of emergency rule in 2007 – a historic first in a country ruled for half its existence by the military.
He further faces murder accusations over the 2006 death of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti and the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
In June, the Supreme Court suspended a decision which would have allowed Musharraf to leave the country.
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On DawnNews
Comments (39) Closed
Apr 02, 2015 11:45am
Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf is innocent.
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Apr 02, 2015 11:57am
Is there any justice in this country? Are we so short of memory? Don't we recall that the whole nation including the media was united in demand of a military action against the Lal Masjid, especially after the killing of Lt Col Haroon ul Islam (SSG) by the guard of Abdul Rashid Ghazi of Lal Masjid?
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Apr 02, 2015 11:58am
Amazing!! Everyone knows the terrible role that Lal Masjid & its entire management have had been playing in our country for long…. They are a state within the state!! And today we are trying a person in the courts who conducted a much needed operation in 2007 in order to stop the evil agenda of these beasts!!!!! This is something really amazing!!!!!
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Apr 02, 2015 11:58am
God give him all the health ,power and happiness in the world, Pakistan should recognize his sacrifices for the country and give him highest civilian award.
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Apr 02, 2015 11:59am
sir,lal masjid clerics defied writ of the government and fired at securtiy forces . one lt col was killed by them. president ordered to storm the masjid . as clerics resisted so they were killed. it was the fault of clerics, how musharaf is to be blamed?similarly first judges approved lfo and how they opposed emergency. it is wrong on the part of judges. thirdly, in balochistan insurgency prevails , if some insurgents are killed in operations, how musharaf is to be blamed. in 1947, it was bugti who joined with pakistan. he cooked his goose
in 1947. all trials are farce to harass general sahb.. during his regime, he increased the prestige of pakistan
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Apr 02, 2015 11:59am
Either he won't be arrested or max his residence would be declared a jail
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Apr 02, 2015 12:07pm
On the contrary LEA are not willing to book Jamia Hafza's students and cleric for inviting ISIS/DAESH to Pakistan... Hypocrisy
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Apr 02, 2015 12:15pm
What a mockery of law the Lal Masjid terrorists are enjoying every facility and the ex-president of the country is being dragged in the courts
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Apr 02, 2015 12:38pm
It is sad to note from the comments that even common citizens of Pakistan fail to recognise a great son of the land.
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Apr 02, 2015 12:56pm
He did the most decent thing during his tenure and took decicive against the vigilantes of lal masjid unlike the nawaz sharif regime .
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Apr 02, 2015 12:58pm
Musharraf knows he wont go to jail, he is immune to all the charges made against him.
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Apr 02, 2015 01:02pm
We should not be arresting him , instead sending him as chief negotiator in talks between KSA and Iran.
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Apr 02, 2015 01:13pm
If the state authorities act, how can you make it a case against President of the country. If this argument holds, then why not institute cases against chief executive(s) of the country during PPP and PMLN period of governance for so many killings during their period of rule. This is pure and simple political victimization.
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Apr 02, 2015 01:22pm
DAWN should add this news in entertainment section now...
I don't understand why courts are closed in evening even when justice is not served..
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Apr 02, 2015 01:24pm
11 member medical board , never heard of so many doctors examining apparently a healthy man. A tough commando going to this length to beat the court's order !
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Apr 02, 2015 01:40pm
@Farrukh Either ways it would be much better than NS Zardri and Altaf being free to move any where correction except Altaf he does not like the weather in Pakistan
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Apr 02, 2015 02:11pm
Arrest Musharraf and trial him to make sure that clerics remain powerful in this country and Pakistanis shall die consistently on the name of religion.
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Apr 02, 2015 02:48pm
@Farrukh
You are absolutely right. Shame on those who are responsible.
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Apr 02, 2015 02:56pm
His health is OK when he is in front of the camera to give interviews and political speeches, but as soon as he gets a summon from the courts, his health deteriorates. I am speechless as how this coward became the commander-in chief of Pakistan Army.
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Apr 02, 2015 03:05pm
He wont be arrested or punished, for anything
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Apr 02, 2015 03:19pm
........and the arrest warrant against the sitting cleric is still not acted on.
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Apr 02, 2015 03:53pm
He's a war criminal. Defying the democratic constitution of his country to seize power with the corrupt army at his back. If he didn't do these crimes, he probably did a hundred others so fair play.
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Apr 02, 2015 04:10pm
@ram singh soni : Very correct observations of an independent observer. All those who oppose logical operations to maintain the writ of the Government, have their vested interest involved at the cost of the national security and therefore would always talk with their selfish bias.
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Apr 02, 2015 04:48pm
@fida sayani USA : Before you call him a coward, read up on how you become an Army commando. Hopefully you will retract your statement then. Don't forget he has put himself in the line of fire to defend Pakistan. Any person in the army, regardless of which nation he/she represents must be respected for the fact they put their lives on the line for others. The lal masjid case is baseless. And time has proven this to be true given the recent news coming out of the masjid.
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Apr 02, 2015 04:49pm
@fida sayani USA: Is he a coward who is sitting in Pakistan despite that he had a chance to flee from the country and enjoy like rest of Pakistani leaders OR are you despite of being a Pakistani, you are sitting in USA and complaining about him? To me the picture is very clear.
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Apr 02, 2015 05:13pm
@Asim Munir . Dear brother one wrong doing cannot justify another
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Apr 02, 2015 05:14pm
@Sunil
Don't be so sure.
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Apr 02, 2015 05:22pm
it was badly handled by military regime,first they used these clerics for justification for their illegal rule and when they turned against them they killed him with many innocent kids and womans,Musharaff must be held accountable for this adventure
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Apr 02, 2015 06:06pm
@fida sayani USA He is not a coward Pakistani nation knows very well well how brave he is since you are living in America you have no idea about his personality
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Apr 02, 2015 06:26pm
@Jazzy Well said. We ignore to take action against vigilantes but favour them with such cases against a former President of the country. What a strange way of delivering justice?
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Apr 02, 2015 08:05pm
@shamain Really I wish that happens. He will be the best choice to ease the differences between KSA and Iran. We all know his capability. We wish that we could use his ability at least in the current situation. Secondly I do not know what is going to happen with him in this case. But due to this type of court order Lal Masjid type people feel very proud that see if someone is going to touch us you will face these consequences
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Apr 02, 2015 08:08pm
@fida sayani USA I think you better know this answer. I think you really living in USA for a long time
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Apr 02, 2015 08:36pm
I feel sad for my beautiful Pakistan.
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Apr 02, 2015 08:48pm
Is 4th of April of every year passing by is significant in every respect for leaders from province of Sindh? Mr. Z.A. Bhutto was transported to gallows on 4th of April 1979. Why have been doing this? Does anybody have a vision for Pakistani persecution of of it's leaders? Why are we victim of our own shortcomings. Please pondor over it and see if General (Retired) is really guilty of all charges and what about his accomplices? Please think rationally.
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Apr 02, 2015 09:06pm
Oh!!! It's still going on. WOW!!!! I guess the Government wakes up once in a while.
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Apr 02, 2015 09:25pm
I have never supported military dictators, as a matter fact suffered many privation opposing them while in Pakistan.
I think this continued persecution of former military dictator Musharraf is going beyond ridiculous.
If we remember the mullahs of Lal Masjid were challenging the writ of the state in their attempt to create a state within a state. Remember their Hafsa brigade with staffs roaming around to impose their brand of morality.
What would any other president would have done in a similar situation.
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Apr 02, 2015 09:27pm
@SP Well said. What is the ruling party planning to do with him? Is the military leadership of Pakistan ready to protect the iconic leader. General (Retired)Musharraf lost his focus and was carried away by the political hawks to his downfall.
He and his cronies are to be blamed for considering themselves above law, and those who are presently in power also consider themselves above law. No one is or should be above law of the land.
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Apr 02, 2015 09:38pm
All future prime minister will be very reluctant to take on terrorist, because they could be charged with murder? This is so insane. Mush did what a courageous person do to take on the enemy of the state.
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Apr 02, 2015 11:38pm
I think that mushraf is a glorious man ,
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