Pakistan government, army to stand by Gen Musharraf
Pakistan government and the army pledge to stand by ex-ruler
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government on Tuesday (December 17) decided to defend the self-exiled, ailing ex-president Pervez Musharraf during the hearing of an appeal, terming the high treason trial against him "unfair".
"I will defend the law in the case but not any individual," said Attorney General Anwar Mansoor in the late-night joint press conference that he addressed along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan.
"Musharraf was not given a chance to record his statement under Article 342 (of the Constitution), to present his testimony and witnesses and his request to record his statement through video link or before a commission was turned down by the judge," he added.
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This decision comes after Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor released a statement saying that the verdict in case against General retired Pervez Musharraf has been received with lot of pain and anguish by rank and file of Pakistan Armed Forces.
"An ex-Army Chief, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee and President of Pakistan, who has served the country for over 40 years, fought wars for the defence of the country can surely never be a traitor," said the ISPR statement.
"The due legal process seems to have been ignored including constitution of special court, denial of fundamental right of self-defence, undertaking individual specific proceedings and concluding the case in haste."
A special court in Islamabad found Musharraf guilty of high treason and handed him a death sentence under Article 6 of the Constitution.
