PML-N to seek Musharraf’s trial under Article 6 of Pak Constitution

October 2nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Supreme Court's detailed judgement on Pervez Musharraf's emergency declaration binds the Gilani government to prosecute the former president under Article 6. The country's apex court has pointed out that Musharraf should be punished for the crimes he committed on Nov 3, 2007, and thus made the government bound to act in accordance with the Constitution.

September 20th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The United States, for the first time, has disclosed that it wanted a 'safe exit' for the former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf after he stepped down from the Presidency. In an interview with an American news paper, US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson said Washington wanted a 'dignified' retirement for Musharraf.

September 19th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Former President General Pervez Musharraf has no plans to take a flight back to Pakistan until the demand for his trial under the Article Six of the Constitution is placed on the backburner, sources said. "He would return to Pakistan once all the sensitive issues relating to his trial for November 3, 2007 actions are resolved," The Nation quoted sources, as saying.

September 14th, 2009 LAHORE - Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz has assured former president Pervez Musharraf that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif will not demand a treason trial for him under Article 6 of the constitution. Musharraf said he would demand that all the judges of the superior judiciary who had approved his steps also be tried for treason if the government charged him with sedition.

September 13th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf Sunday said former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif would not seek his trial for high treason. Sharif has assured King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia that he would respect the agreement (not to call for Musharraf's trial) under Article 6 of Pakistan's constitution, Musharraf told a TV channel.

September 9th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - PML-N Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal has said that the PPP backed out of its promise on trying former President Pervez Musharraf. The Dawn quoted Iqbal as saying that the PPP had agreed to prosecute Musharraf in the past but now it seemed that the PPP is not interested bringing the former dictator to book.

September 2nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The 'royal' treatment being given to former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf during his Saudi Arabia visit has his opponents worried. The special treatment has sparked speculations that Riyadh is trying to use its influence to ask the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to shun its demand for Musharraf's trial under the Article Six of the Constitution.

August 31st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has vehemently denied reports that it is preparing a deal allowing former President General Pervez Musharraf to escape the high treason trial under the Article six of the Constitution. Interacting with media persons here, PML-N Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal said 160 million Pakistanis are in favour of prosecuting Musharraf and want the rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution to be maintained.

August 30th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf may strike a deal with the Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz (PML-N) to escape the high treason trial under Article Six of the Constitution. According to sources close to Musharraf, the former Army Chief is trying to seal a pact with the PML-N under which he would formalize his exile in Britain and stay 'quiet' for at least 10 years.

August 25th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and the trial of former president General Pervez Musharraf under the Article Six of the Constitution are two separate issues and should not be interlinked. "These are two separate issues," Gilani said when asked whether the NRO was preventing the government from initiating a high treason case against Musharraf.

August 25th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) has decided to support a resolution seeking former President General Pervez Musharraf's trial under Article Six of the Constitution, despite having ideological differences with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). "PPP has ideological differences with PML-N but it would support resolution bringing dictators and breakers of constitutions to book," the Dawn quoted Attorney General Sardar Latif Khosa, as saying.

August 21st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) has said it would continue its struggle for former President General Pervez Musharraf's trial despite the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) distancing itself from the issue. "PML-N would pursue the issue, as it did in the case of restoration of judiciary, inside and outside parliament," leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said.

August 20th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has virtually ruled out the trial of former President General Pervez Musharraf for high treason, saying such step a could trigger political imbalance in the country. Responding to opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan's demand in the National Assembly, Gilani questioned the 'feasibility' of a Musharraf trial.

August 9th, 2009 KARACHI - A prominent Pakistani legal expert has said the PPP-led government should take the initiative to prosecute former president Pervez Musharraf for violating the constitution. The Dawn quoted former Supreme Court Bar Association President Aitzaz Ahsan, as saying that the apex court had declared Musharraf's as actions as illegal, but it could not try the former dictator since it was not a trial court.

July 25th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Supporting the Supreme Court's decision to summon former President General Pervez Musharraf, former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said the military ruler's trial was the 'need of the hour'. Sharif said Musharraf must be tried and punished for "breaching the constitution".