Govt responsible if Musharraf doesn’t return: Khursheed

SUKKUR: Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah on Saturday said the government will be responsible if former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf refused to return to the country.

Talking to the media here, the opposition leader said he was waiting for the resignations of PML-N legislators as they had committed to do so if Musharraf travelled abroad.

On the occasion, he recalled the famous Urdu saying, “Mian Biwi Razi Too Kia Karay Ga Qazi.”

Shah said the PML-N was now looking for a face-saving excuse by shifting the responsibility to the courts.

He said the courts were clear in their decisions and requested the PML-N not to exploit them on the issue.

The opposition leader predicted that Musharraf will not return because he was nominated in the Benazir murder case.

He said the PPP was ready to work with the government to save democracy.

“We had given a guard of honour to Musharraf because he was the president of Pakistan and we had to take oath from him. The other reason was the resumption of the democratic process after dictatorial rule,” he continued.

He said Musharraf should also be tried for the Oct 12 coup.

Sabah adds: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah rejected the government’s claims that the Supreme Court had allowed Musharraf to go abroad.

He said the apex court had clearly stated that the decision to allow Musharraf to travel abroad rested with the government.

The opposition leader said he was not concerned if the decision to allow Musharraf to leave the country was taken due to a deal under pressure or simply because the government got rid of the issue.

He sarcastically said Musharraf’s oxygen mask in the hospital was taken off soon after the court decision.

He said Musharraf had ended Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s democratic government.

Khursheed said along with Musharraf, Article 6 should also be applied to all those responsible for breaking the Constitution.

Online adds: PPP leader Manzoor Wassan on Saturday said ex-president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s travel abroad was a surprise for those who had claimed they would never compromise on principles.

“Musharraf will not return to Pakistan before 2018,” Wassan said while speaking to the media here.

“Today the judiciary is much stronger,” he said, adding the IG Sindh had to be replaced due to the Supreme Court’s orders.

Wassan regretted that fabricated cases were being made against the PPP but the party always managed to get out of the worst conditions.

He warned that a steady increase in Sindh’s sense of deprivation could prove dangerous.

He said former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal would cause dents to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and not the PPP.—Originally published in The News