ISLAMABAD: In a bid to accord a historic welcome to All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) chief Pervez Musharraf, preparations are in full swing, party’s Central Information Secretary Aasia Ishaq said on Monday, adding that People of Karachi will receive the APML chief in an unprecedented historic manner.
Musharraf has announced that he will return next Sunday to contest elections that are expected in May. “I am arriving in Pakistan on March 24th. I need your support,” Musharraf said on his Facebook page early Monday.
However, as the Musharraf’s arrival date comes closer, the demand by the lawmakers to arrest the former military ruler and charge him with treason on his return home from self-imposed exile in Dubai is increasing.
Musharraf is wanted in Pakistan over the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in a gun and suicide attack after an election rally in Rawalpindi, the headquarters of the army, on December 27, 2007.
“A senate resolution adopted in January last year is very clear that he should be arrested and prosecuted,” senator Raza Rabbani, a leader of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), said.
“It is the expression of the will of the lawmakers.” The resolution adopted unanimously by the upper house demanded Musharraf’s arrest and institution of a treason case against the former dictator, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999. The maximum penalty for treason is hanging.
On the other hand, APML leader Aasia Ishaq said while talking to a delegation of the party’s office-bearers belonging to Hyderabad that return of the party chief had instilled passion and warmth among the masses.
“The corrupt leaders had been stuck to a state of intimidation because of their inner fear that they would then face strong opposition of the oppressed people under the dynamic leadership of Musharraf,” she added.
Musharraf’s return would be a turning point in the politics of the country because the people wanted to bring about a change in the corrupt political system of the country and Musharraf had the potential to kindle the light of the change, she said.
Pakistani courts have issued warrants for Musharraf’s arrest over the death of Benazir Bhutto and the 2006 death of a rebel leader in the southwest.
Apart from APML leader’s arrest demands, the party has suffered a major political setback before Musharraf’s likely return on March 24 as top leaders of APML in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa resigned due to internal conflicts.
APML’s Chief Organzier Abdul Haleem Khatak, Secretary General Rehmatullah, Deputy Chief Coordinator Alamgir Khan and Information Secretary Arbab Rahim have quit the party citing internal party differences, sources said.
It is pertinent to mention that Barrister Saif has already parted ways with the APML.
DND
