Nisar asks government to bring Musharraf through Interpol

* Opposition leader leads walkout against diverting funds from Balochistan, ERRA to flood affectees


* Suggests extending ongoing NA session


Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Wednesday described former president Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf as a “characterless man” and asked the government to approach Interpol to bring him back to the country and register a case against him under Article 6 of the constitution.

The opposition leader also led a walkout protest from the House against diverting funds from Balochistan and the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) to flood affectees. The walkout was also joined by members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).

“Nobody is above the constitution. The scared cows should also come within the ambit of the constitution of the Pakistan,” Nisar said while referring to the recent statements of Musharraf in which he had talked about the alleged involvement of Pakistan in Indian-held Kashmir and also asked the government to hold the former dictator accountable for his misdeeds.

National interests: He said the Pakistan government should take serious notice of Musharraf’s statement, which was totally against national interests, saying that India had reacted within half an hour that Musharraf had supported their point of view. “The best way to prevent Musharraf from issuing further statements against national interests is to book him under Article 6 of the constitution and bring him back to the country,” Nisar said.

He asked the government to immediately approach Interpol for his extradition so that he could be taken to task for breaching the constitution on two occasions, massacre of innocent Lal Masjid students, Akbar Bugti’s murder, putting judges behind the bars and several other wrongdoings.

The opposition leader said he would also quote a female PML-Q parliamentarian who had called Musharraf a characterless man. “The recent statements issued by him also reflect his morality and personal character,” he observed.

Session: He also suggested that the ongoing session of the National Assembly, which is going to be prorogued on Friday, should be extended as a number of important issues such as Musharraf’s statement, admitted adjournment motion on the Umar Cheema case, incursions by NATO forces and an operation inside the Pakistani territory.

He said a privilege motion moved by the PML-Nawaz against a federal minister, who had given a false statement on the floor of the National Assembly, was also yet to come on the order of the day. Nisar, without naming the federal minister, regretted that irresponsible and false statements were issued, which is a breach of privilege of the House.

Addressing assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza, he said she is the custodian of the House and should protect its privilege. “A sitting minister had categorically stated on floor of the National Assembly that he will resign if he presents wrong facts before the House,” Nisar said while recalling the minister’s speech.

The opposition leader also drew attention of Prime Minister Yousaf Gilani, who was also present in the House, to a resolution passed by the Balochistan Assembly against imposition cut on development funds of the province. “This is a serious matter and the government should take steps for removing grievances of the Balochistan government and its people,” he said.

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