Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) staged protest rallies in various cities and towns against government’s decision to let former military dictator General (r) Pervaiz Musharraf leave the country.

Women wing of the PPP on Sunday held a protest demonstration in front of the National Press Club in Islamabad against the government for allowing Musharraf to travel abroad while a high treason case and other cases were still pending in the courts against him.

Addressing the protesters, PPP leader Senator Farhatullah Babar demanded of the government to come out clean on ‘whether Musharraf’s sudden departure was the result of pressure from undisclosed quarters or some deal’.

“Until we know the truth behind the mystery, we will not be able to stop dictators from subverting the constitution and also getting away with it,” said the senator. “This is disturbing as it will only encourage potential dictators from subverting the constitution in the future,” he said.

He alleged the government did not seriously pursue charges like high treason against him in the courts. He demanded Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif step down immediately.

The protesters were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and General (r) Musharraf. They condemned the alleged secret deal between the government and the former military ruler. Babar termed it the darkest day for democracy when nation helplessly watched a dictator being flown out without any hindrance.

Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari chaired a high-level party meeting over departure of former president Pervez Musharraf. National Assembly opposition leader Syed Khurshid Shah and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah attended the meeting.

The PPP lawmakers are also set to hold protest during Sindh Assembly session today against the federal government’s decision to lift the travel ban against former president Pervez Musharraf.

Sources in the PPP said that the party may move a resolution in the assembly against the federal government’s decision. The session, which will be chaired by speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, has been summoned for oath-taking ceremony of PPP MPA Aziz Junejo, who has won the by-polls from Khairpur Nathan Shah, Dadu district. Soon after the oath-taking ceremony, the question-and-answer session of the katchi abadi department will be started.

Other items on the agenda include the introduction of Karachi Development Authority (Revival and Amendment) Bill 2016 and consideration of Sindh Factories Bill 2015.