Govt may challenge Musharraf's conviction, says minister.

TAXILA -- Federal AviaAtion Minister Ghulam SarAwar Khan has said that the government is considering challenging the conviction of former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf by the special court.

Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, he said the step would be taken to avert a clash between the country's institutions and ease internal tension.

Answering a question, Mr Khan termed the special court's verdict a result of the presidential reference against former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

He said the Supreme Court gave Mr Musharraf the power to amend the Constitution after he ousted the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government in 1999.

ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER AD

'The special court's verdict and the order pertaining to extension in the army chief's tenure are part of a conspiracy,' he said.

Mr Khan was of the view that Para 66 of the special court's verdict was shocking. 'It [the verdict] has exposed the country's judicial system to ridicule in the world.' He requested courts to desist from giving such verdicts that might give joy to Pakistan's enemies.

Answering a question about the arrest of PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal by the National Accountability Bureau, Mr Khan said that all those who had plundered the national wealth would face the same fate.

He said the Indian government might escalate tension along the Line of Control (LoC) in a bid to divert the international community's attention from human rights violations in India and protests against its controversial citizenship law. The...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT