MANSEHRA/GHALANAI: Demonstrations were staged in Mansehra and Mohmand areas on Friday against the conviction of former military ruler retired General Pervez Musharraf by a special court in a high treason case

The residents took out a rally in Mansehra from outside the Markazi Masjid on Abbottabad Road to the Khatm-i-Nobuwat Chowk holding banners and placards and shouting slogans in support of the armed forces and Musharraf.

PTI leader Adil Khan told protesters that the people couldn’t ‘tolerate the judicial murder’ of Musharraf, who held key civilian and military positions and fought wars for the country.

Civil society activist Waqas Shah said Musharraf could never be called a traitor as he’d served the country for more than 40 years.

He said the Supreme Court should review the verdict to dispense justice to the ailing former president.

The demonstrations were also staged in Mohmand tribal district against the conviction of Musharraf in a high treason case.

The elders and shopkeepers took out a rally in Lower Mohmand’s Ekkaghund Bazaar carrying placards and banners inscribed with pro-Musharraf slogans.

They declared the former military ruler a hero.

The residents also demonstrated in the main Mandi Bazaar shouting slogans in favour of Musharraf.

A protest was staged in the district headquarters, Ghalanai, with Mohmand Welfare Organisation president Mir Afzal Mohmand leading it.

The speakers, including Mir Afzal and Gul Zamin Khan, said Musharraf was a former army chief and the country’s president, so he was the country’s hero.

They said the special court’s decision against Musharraf in the high treason case was unacceptable.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2019