ISLAMABAD - Defence Minister Kh. Mohammad Asif denied any decision on part of government to send General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf abroad for cardiac treatment and said that as the matter was sub judice, so special court was competent to take any decision in this regard.
Talking to media persons after having a detailed meeting with Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif here on Thursday, Kh. Asif said that so far there was nothing concrete about his sending abroad for treatment. As the matter was in the special court so whatever decision the court would take government would implement it in letter and spirit.
To a question he said that it was up to the lawyers of Gen.(retd) Pervez Musharraf that how they could get relief for their client from the court of law be it by presenting his medical certificate or moving an application for deletion of his name from ECL.
He said till today only politicians have faced allegations in the courts and none of the military dictators had ever shown courage to appear in the courts.
Khawaja Mohammad Asif said that the former president had been claiming that being commando, he would face cases against him but it appears that he has no courage to do so.
Earlier, Kh. Mohammad Asif met Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif at Prime Minister House and discussed with him the overall political situation in the country with specific reference to the recent developments in the high treason case against former commando general Pervez Musharraf.
It was the unanimous view of the ruling party that as the high treason case was in the court of law so government would comply with all directions of the special court in this connection.
Sources further informed The Nation that it was also decided in the meeting that government should allay the impression being created in section of media that some Islamic states were influencing Nawaz Sharif’s government to give relief to former military ruler and in this connection the PML-N leaders were tasked to come out with categorical denial of any such move.
The security provision to former military ruler and planting of explosive on his route for couple of times also figured in the meeting and it was decided that foolproof security arrangements were in place for the Gen.(Retd) Pervez Musharraf.
Court to decide Musharraf’s fate: Mushahidullah
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Secretary Information Mushahidullah Khan said that the matter of Gen.(Retd) Pervez Musharraf was in the court of law and the final decision on his fate would be decided by the courts of law. In a statement‚ he said the case under Article-6 against Pervez Musharraf was initiated in light of the decisions of the superior judiciary.
It is pertinent to mention here that Musharraf, who was to appear before the special treason court on Thursday, was rushed to a hospital where he underwent angiography.
The special court exempted former Pervez Musharraf from appearance till full recovery. The court has also decided not to issue arrest warrants of former president. The hearing of the treason case was adjourned till Jan. 6(Monday).