Musharraf’s statement: PPP senator questions army’s silence

The Express Tribune

While murmurs of former president Pervez Musharraf’s treason trial and his sudden hospitalisation were heard in the upper house of parliament on the first day of the 100th session on Friday, the chatter did not spiral out of control as was expected. On a point of order, PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar voiced his doubt that the army was unhappy over the proceedings of Musharraf’s trial as was claimed by the former general in an interview. Senator Babar said that if the army did not clarify its former boss’s statement, then it would be deemed true. “We expected the ISPR to formally react to the statement, just as it did to the statement by Jamaat-e-Islami chief Munawar Hassan,” he said. “If the ISPR can issue a statement to such a political statement, then its silence over Musharraf’s claim is meaningful.” Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq was quick to defend the army, saying there was no need for such a clarification. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has already responded to Musharraf’s statement, he added.

ANP criticises ‘opaque’ policies

Continuing the debate over Senator Raza Rabbani’s motion on the law and order situation, ANP lawmaker Haji Adeel said the government’s policy was unclear on several issues. “Appropriate measures to curb militancy, especially in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, are missing,” he added. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s blockade of Nato supply routes invalidated commitments made to the international community, he said and questioned the federal government’s silence over the PTI’s actions.