ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, while criticising those protesting the exclusion of former president Pervez Musharraf’s name from the exit control list, said people who once gave guard of honour to the former military ruler are now staging a political drama.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Nisar took a jibe at Pakistan People’s Party — accusing it of having double standards — saying “during its five-year-rule the party maintained friendly ties with Musharraf, but now it is protesting over him travelling abroad”.

The interior minister said the investigating committee in 2009 had pointed out towards Musharraf’s alleged involvement in Benazir Bhutto’s murder, however, the then PPP government didn’t bother to pursue any case against the former military ruler.

“Is this some kind of a joke or what, that the party which presented guard of honour to Musharraf is now staging a political drama,” Nisar maintained.

“Musharraf’s name was excluded from ECL following the decision of the apex court,” said Nisar.

Deal or no deal, questions PPP

The PPP staged a rally in Islamabad on Sunday evening to protest against the government for allowing Musharraf to travel abroad while a high treason case and other cases were still pending in the courts against him.

Addressing the rally, Senator Farhatullah Babar demanded of the government to come out clean on “whether Musharraf’s sudden departure was the result of pressure from undisclosed quarters or some deal”.

Until we know the truth behind the mystery we will not be able to stop dictators from subverting the Constitution and also getting away with it, said the Senator.

“This is disturbing as it will only encourage potential dictators from subverting the Constitution in the future,” Babar said.