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Treason Charges Against Musharraf Are Put Off Treason Charges Against Musharraf Are Put Off
(about 3 hours later)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistan’s caretaker government declined on Monday to bring treason charges against the detained former military leader, Pervez Musharraf, saying it was beyond its mandate.ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistan’s caretaker government declined on Monday to bring treason charges against the detained former military leader, Pervez Musharraf, saying it was beyond its mandate.
The decision, which was read out to the Supreme Court, offers some limited breathing space to Mr. Musharraf, who has been under house arrest since Saturday in a separate case. The decision, which was read out to the Supreme Court, offers some limited breathing space to Mr. Musharraf, who has been under arrest since Friday in a separate case.
It does not dispel the possibility of treason charges, but means that any decision about the case is likely to be taken by the next government after the general election on May 11. Some opponents of Mr. Musharraf have called for the former military ruler to be hanged for treason because of misdeeds during his autocratic rule from 1999 to 2008. After Mr. Musharraf’s quixotic return to Pakistan on March 24, and his arrest last week, the court said it would rule on whether he could face treason charges in addition to a host of other accusations, and began hearing arguments.
In a statement, the caretaker government told the court there was “no urgency” to try Mr. Musharraf, and that it preferred to confine its work to “day-to-day matters.” Now, with the caretaker’s government refusal to press the matter — in a statement, the government told the court there was “no urgency” to try Mr. Musharraf — the decision will fall to the next government. That may be little comfort to the former leader: one of the favorites to become prime minister after the May 11 elections is Nawaz Sharif, a former prime minister and avowed enemy of Mr. Musharraf who has in the past called for his execution.
The interim administration, which came to power last month, is charged with stewarding Pakistan during the election campaign. It already faces the challenges of managing a declining economy while fending off Taliban attacks on secular political parties. The prospect of treason charges against Mr. Musharraf threaten the decades-old impunity enjoyed by Pakistan’s military leadership, and the caretaker government is keen to distance itself from what is seen as a politically contentious case. “The caretaker government should avoid taking any controversial step and should not commit any process that is not reversible by the incoming elected government,” the interim authority said in its statement.
The treason charges against Mr. Musharraf threaten the decades-old impunity enjoyed by Pakistan’s military leadership, and the caretaker government is keen to distance itself from what is seen as a politically contentious case. In court on Monday, Mr. Musharraf’s lawyers complained they had not been allowed to visit their client who has been under house arrest at his fortified villa on the outskirts of the capital, Islamabad. They said that he had no Internet or telephone facilities, was confined to two rooms of the house and had been denied access to family members.
“The caretaker government should avoid taking any controversial step and should not commit any process that is not reversible by the incoming elected government,” the interim authority said in its statement. The presiding judge, Jawwad S. Khawaja, ordered that the lawyers be allowed to see their client, while repeatedly stressing that Mr. Musharraf would be given his full constitutional rights, sometimes waving a copy of the Constitution for emphasis.
In court, Mr. Musharraf’s lawyers complained they had not been allowed to visit their client who has been under house arrest at his fortified villa on the outskirts of the capital, Islamabad. They said that he had no Internet or telephone facilities, was confined to two rooms of the house and had been denied access to family members. The judge’s statement was a pointed gesture, given that the retired four-star general stands accused of abrogating the Constitution twice — once to seize power in 1999, then again in November 2007 when he imposed emergency rule.
The presiding judge, Jawwad S. Khawaja, ordered that the lawyers be allowed to see their client, while repeatedly stressing that Mr. Musharraf would be given his full constitutional rights, sometimes waving a copy of the Constitution. The tangle of court cases has overshadowed Mr. Musharraf’s attempted political comeback. The 69-year-old former commando returned from four years in exile last month, claiming he had come to save Pakistan in the run up to the election.
The judge’s statement was a pointed gesture, given that the retired four-star general stands accused of abrogating the constitution twice — once to seize power in 1999, then again in November 2007 when he imposed emergency rule.
The tangle of court cases has overshadowed Mr. Musharraf’s attempted political comeback. The 69-year-old former commando returned from four years in exile last month, claiming he had come to “save” Pakistan in the run up to the election.
Instead the election commission disqualified him from standing for election, and determined judges have insisted on holding him accountable for some of the most controversial decisions of his nine years in power.Instead the election commission disqualified him from standing for election, and determined judges have insisted on holding him accountable for some of the most controversial decisions of his nine years in power.
Mr. Musharraf fled a courtroom last Thursday in a bid to avoid arrest in the main case against him, which relates to his decision to sack and detain the senior judiciary in 2007. He was brought back to face charges the following day, and is now on judicial remand until May 4. Mr. Musharraf fled a courtroom last Thursday in a bid to avoid arrest in the main case against him, which relates to his decision to fire and detain the senior judiciary in 2007. He was brought back to face charges the following day, and is now on judicial remand until May 4.
Investigators have taken a statement from Mr. Musharraf at his villa and are examining speeches in which he defended his decision to impose emergency rule in 2007, Pakistani media reported on Monday. Investigators have taken a statement from Mr. Musharraf at his villa and are examining speeches in which he defended his decision to impose emergency rule in 2007, Pakistani news media reported on Monday.
Mr. Musharraf also faces charges of abetment in relation to the deaths of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in December 2007, and Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader who died in an army operation in 2006.Mr. Musharraf also faces charges of abetment in relation to the deaths of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in December 2007, and Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader who died in an army operation in 2006.