Musharraf preferred hospital stay over facing courts, says Shah

E-Paper | March 11, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stalwart and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, Khursheed Shah, on Friday lashed out at former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, calling him a 'coward' who preferred a stay in hospital instead of facing the courts.

Taking strong exception to the former president’s remarks against PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Shah said that, "Musharraf should try to be man enough to spend even half a day in jail, instead of ridiculing Asif Zardari who spent over a decade in detention and faced police brutality".

"Since he feared being sent to prison by court, Musharraf demonstrated 'shameless cowardice' by asking the driver to turn the vehicle towards a hospital, feigning pain in his chest, instead of appearing in court", Shah said in a statement Friday.

Read: Musharraf moved to hospital; court grants exemption

Shah claimed that his party's co-chairman spent 11 years in jail including long periods in solitary confinement without any conviction by a court.

"He was tortured while in custody and his tongue was slashed. Zardari was dragged from court to court, city to city and jail to jail as torture," Shah claimed.

The PPP stalwart added that Asif Zardari was kept from living with his family when his children were in their formative phase of life and were in most need of fatherly care.

"If this is not torture while in custody then what else is this," asked Shah.

In a television interview yesterday, former dictator Pervez Musharraf had claimed that Asif Ali Zardari was never tortured in jail and he completed most of his jail term in a Karachi hospital.

Moreover, Musharraf also called for extending the tenure of current Army chief General Raheel Sharif.

“I wish he carries on with all he (Gen Raheel) is doing,” he said.

“What he is doing right now, it needs continuity and if there is any change in the leadership amidst this all, all good work which has been done so far would go in waste. So I can only wish and suggest that he should stay there.”

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Ghaznavi

Sep 18, 2015 06:58pm

Cases against former President Musharraf are based on victimization whereas the cases against Zardari were genuine corruption cases.

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Muhammad Usman

Sep 18, 2015 07:04pm

Where are PPP leaders? most of them hiding in fear of corruption cases.

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Zak

Sep 18, 2015 07:07pm

The focus is on you, not on Musharfs, don't try to deflect your woes.

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Irfan

Sep 18, 2015 07:07pm

Actually both are the culprits of NRO resulted in a huge damage to both Pakistan and the nation itself. They should both be accountable for.

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Jhoom Barabar Jhoom

Sep 18, 2015 07:13pm

Gen (R)Musharraf is brave,he is still in Karachi,and his problem in vertebral is genuine,he must be allowed treatment where he wish.But some others are continuously living in Dubai as uncalled for,guests,but not willing to come home.

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Canada

Sep 18, 2015 07:16pm

At least Musharraf came back to PK to try and play an active role. Unlike AZ and whole Bhutto family that disappears until its near election time so that they can try to loot and plunder.

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Mark

Sep 18, 2015 07:22pm

Then tell Zardari to come back to Pakistan. Why he run away from Pakistan?

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Asif Kamil

Sep 18, 2015 07:43pm

@Ghaznavi . And prison term was right choice for him

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Tarik

Sep 18, 2015 08:01pm

Mushraf is a clean man his only fault was NRO which brought back Zardari.

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naji

Sep 18, 2015 08:09pm

Hay, see on your back. NAB letter of investigation is knocking at you. They are just asking how you became Billionaire in few years, what is your source of income, how many industries you have?

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Khalil Ahmed

Sep 18, 2015 08:14pm

Musharraft is a Soldier and he is on his soil to face the courts and so far none have proved him to be guilty. There is difference between the one who ran out to Dubai and England to avoid the courts and the one who returned back from Dubai and England to face the courts! I thought Mr. Shah is a sincere and a senior politician he should understand spending 10 years in Jail is a disgrace not an honour! A

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MGA

Sep 18, 2015 08:18pm

Well, look who is talking, There is not corruption charges against Musharraf. All the cases against him, he is facing in court. Not like running away from Country like other leaders

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Saeed Masood

Sep 18, 2015 08:22pm

May be he himself feels that he is guilty and he needs to hide.

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Jingo

Sep 18, 2015 08:30pm

Judging from the comments treason and murder is ignorable but corruption is not , talk about misplaced priorities

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Mustafa

Sep 18, 2015 08:52pm

@Jingo; 'Judging from the comments treason and murder is ignorable but corruption is not' That is so because we all know who the corrupt are but treason and murder are charges that are bandied about against you don't like.

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Sanzer

Sep 18, 2015 09:02pm

At least this is true that Zardari spent years in jail and was tortured whereas Musharraf couldn't even face the courts. Not to mention his corruption, that is a separate issue but Zardari was politically victimised.

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Jingo

Sep 18, 2015 09:16pm

Mustafa knowing is a subjective term, what matters is court's decision, now don't blame the courts for incompetence as they have dealt with both former presidents the same way, difference is between how both the former presidents dealt with the courts

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Muhammad Irfan

Sep 18, 2015 09:18pm

Hahahaaa....in Urdu proverb: Shah Se Ziada Shah Ke Wafadar...and in English: More loyal than the king...!!

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Muhammad Irfan

Sep 18, 2015 09:20pm

Yes...NRO was the biggest mistake of Musharraf...

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Ungli

Sep 18, 2015 09:21pm

social media is responsible for Musharraf plight. otherwise he was leading a peaceful and luxurious life in london and dubai.

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Qamar

Sep 18, 2015 09:30pm

"Musharraf preferred hospital stay over facing courts". So did your 'great' leader Zardari. He even submitted certificates of mental illness to Swiss courts.

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People of Pakistan

Sep 18, 2015 09:36pm

You have NO right to talk about Musharraf, PPP got NRO from him, for which he must be jailed. And all PPP leaders must go to jail as well with all cases to be revived against all including NOON league and MQM, everyone should be in Machh Jail

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M. A. Naveed Choudhry

Sep 18, 2015 09:44pm

Charges against Musharaf are of "high treason". It is a serious offence under law and constitution. He should face trial instead of hiding in hospital. How brave?

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Jingo

Sep 18, 2015 09:56pm

lets compare hard facts not just what we all know, courts deceived by ppp over swiss laundering case with fake letter sent to swiss authorities, fact musharraf mishandled lal masjid episode garnering support for apologists and sympathisers of terrorists, fact musharraf raised his fists in victory on May 12 when bloodshed claimed more than 50 lives in Karachi, Musharraf abrogated Constitution not once but twice (1999 and 2007), nature of charges are different but people claim to know better

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Aman Jan

Sep 18, 2015 10:18pm

@Khalil Ahmed is Musharaf really facing courts or seeking exemptions from court on security or medical grounds.

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M.Saeed

Sep 18, 2015 10:34pm

Fever is much more acceptable if the other option is death in a cell. Shah Jee, never talk high because you never know tomorrow you might land in the shoes of Musharraf.

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DR. SHAZIA

Sep 18, 2015 10:49pm

While PPP hack Khursheed Shah has the nerve to put down a brave Pakistan Army General and former President Musharraf by irresponsibly stating "Since he feared being sent to prison by court, Musharraf demonstrated 'shameless cowardice'" - how about both K.Shah and Zardari go and fight on the front lines in Kashmir's border with India or in Kargil and see if they can even survive one day let alone months of fierce battles and wars in frigid arctic temps or severe scorching heat as Gen. Musharraf has done untold times during his stellar service to his nation. For either of these PPP politicians, jail = heaven vs a real soldier's war. Oh forgot - none of these politicians have ever sacrificed anything for Pakistan, let alone their lives. BTW, Zardari did stay in a VIP section of a hospital for much of his stay where he was given a massive suite and upscale food catered by his personal chef. Not to mention he received the same VIP treatment while in jail for a limited time.

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Dilectus

Sep 18, 2015 10:57pm

Musharraf was no saint but better than Zardari and Nawaz. At least he wasn't corrupt. Corruption at every level has caused Pakistan more loss than any other reason.

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Aaqil

Sep 18, 2015 11:42pm

Yes, Mush is right. AZ got all the luxury while in hospital owned by his partner in crime Dr Asim. True facts never remain hidden for ever. While Mush himself avoided courts for sure despite his trumpeted claims that he is a commando and not afraid of any one. But then why he chose to avoid facing the courts ?

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M Jamal

Sep 18, 2015 11:46pm

Mr Musharraf an honest,sincere and upright person who served Pakistan to his best of abilities with no family members in politics and none of them enjoyed any undue privileges.His career is full of praise.Now KS and AZ are those whose careers and achievements are well known to everyone and shortly they will be tried in the court of law for their wrongdoings.

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Kaspar

Sep 18, 2015 11:54pm

@Tarik NRO is Musharraf's great blunder as well as his crime against the nation. He was foolish enough to think that he could remain president for another term by signing this shady and dishonest deal with the PPP. He has reportedly admitted his culpability regarding the NRO but the damage that he did to the nation thereby cannot be undone.

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Naeem

Sep 19, 2015 12:15am

@Sanzer Please mention his corruption, and don't hide behind language.

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Shazad

Sep 19, 2015 12:19am

Well, facing genuine cases of corruption against himself in London court, Zardari declared that he is mentally ill and thus could not attend court. Presently, seeing rangers are going after corrupts and thugs in Sindh, Zardari ran away and prefer to live in Dubai. Well, most of PPP corrupt thugs have left Pakistan and love to live in Dubai, scared that rangers may act and NAB (under the direction of Rangers) might open corruption cases against them too. How can Khursheed Shah talk about Musharraf being coward, a person who has done no corruption and he returned to Pakistan knowing that liars and crooks (be they in politics, bureaucracy, law enforcement agencies or judiciary ... retired or active) would be after him? I think Kursheed Shah thinks that Pakistanis are mentally retards and could not think, have same deceases what Zardari has, hence he is making such tall claims.

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Syed Ganga Din

Sep 19, 2015 12:19am

"Musharraf preferred hospital stay over facing courts, says Shah" Don't say that, he is a commando who returned to Pakistan to face false accusations against him. A brave man indeed.

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Zeeshan Ahmed

Sep 19, 2015 01:22am

So according to Shah, being dragged from court to court with a gag order qualifies as torture.

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Irfan umrani

Sep 19, 2015 01:44am

Zardari spent half decade in jail because of his corrupt activities and bad deeds . MUSHARRAF is noble man who should not spend single second in jail

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Salma

Sep 19, 2015 02:11am

Asia was born while Mr zardari was still in that brutal jail.

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Karachitee

Sep 19, 2015 02:16am

What they have done to Sindh particular and Pakistan in general. Democracy does not mean "license for corruption" my dear Shah Jee.

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usman

Sep 19, 2015 02:31am

@Kaspar agreed and he admits it. but this nothing compared to the intentional loot our politicians are accused for....

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unbelievable

Sep 19, 2015 02:53am

@Ghaznavi "Cases against former President Musharraf are based on victimization whereas the cases against Zardari were genuine corruption cases." Everyone outside of Pakistan would argue that they are both guilty and both belong behind bars.

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Sep 19, 2015 06:03am

@Tarik and how about the thousands of acre land and jobs handed over to very

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Sep 19, 2015 06:17am

@Muhammad Irfan it was not a mistake it was dream to become president for long time but unfortunately there are more smarter people who shattered his dream.

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