ISLAMABAD: The government’s decision to let former president Pervez Musharraf go abroad has created fissure in the rank of the ruling party.
Sources said that federal ministers Khawaja Asif and Ahsan Iqbal, who had earlier announced to quit politics if Musharraf was allowed to go abroad, have reportedly expressed their anger over his safe exit.
A group within PML-N rank has expressed strong protest with the prime minister after Musharraf’s departure to Dubai, the sources claimed.
Although all federal ministers and parliamentarians within the PML-N are seen defending the decision in the media, a certain faction within the party ranks has formally conveyed its protest to the party leadership. The protesting faction includes Information Minister Pervez Rashid, Federal Minister for Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan and other.
According to the sources, they were of the opinion that why a dictator who not only abrogated the constitution but also persecuted all leaders of the PML-N has been allowed to go abroad when his trial was under way.
The sources said that only Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan looked satisfied among the cabinet members over the government decision. Other members of cabinet and a majority of members of parliament look highly upset over the decision by the party leadership.