KARACHI: Going one step further in its support for retired Gen Pervez Musharraf, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan on Friday announced that it would hold a rally on Sunday (tomorrow) in protest over the special court’s verdict that handed death sentence to the former military dictator for high treason.

While the protest rally in Karachi will be held on Liaquatabad flyover on Sunday, the party will hold similar rallies on Saturday (today) across the cities and towns in the rest of Sindh to extend support to the former dictator.

The MQM-P had not only termed the special court’s verdict “extremely regrettable” but also sent a delegation to Dubai to meet ailing Gen Musharraf and assured him of the party’s full support.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s temporary headquarters in Bahadurabad, MQM-P convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that the detailed verdict against Gen Musharraf and the language used in it had hurt the sentiments of all patriotic citizens across the country.

“We believe that the verdict and the language used in it will cause tension among the state institutions,” he said, adding: “We have great respect for the judiciary and still we expect that the superior courts will review this decision.”

He made it clear that his party considered democracy as the only option for the progress of Pakistan. “The chief justice of Pakistan has a decisive role in this issue and [we hope] he will unmask the hidden reasons and designs behind the decision against Gen Musharraf.”

Accompanied by senior leaders Amir Khan, Kanwar Naveed, Nasreen Jalil and others, he said that the language in the detailed verdict was extremely regrettable and painful and it left many questions on the merit of the case.

Dr Siddiqui, who is also a federal minister, said that the MQM-P had decided that its workers and supporters would gather on the Liaquatabad flyover on Sunday to record their protest against the judgement.

Farooq Sattar-led faction holds demo

Also on Friday, the faction being led by disgruntled MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar held a demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club to express solidarity with Gen Musharraf and in protest over the detailed verdict of the special court.

Addressing the protesters, Dr Sattar said that Gen Musharraf was not given the right to defend himself in the high treason trial.

He said it was extremely disappointing that the person who gave the slogan of ‘Pakistan First’ was declared a traitor.

He asked the chief justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice against the language used in the detailed verdict.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2019