'Lawyers to launch nationwide protest if Musharraf not tried for treason'

Lahore, Nov.4: Retired Pakistan Justice Wajihuddin Ahmed has said that lawyers would launch a nation wide protest if former President General Pervez Musharraf is not tried under the Article six of the constitution.

Interacting with media persons on the sidelines of a function at the Karachi Bar Association, Justice Ahmed said Musharraf had tried to cripple the judiciary through his dubious November 3, 2007 actions, and added that all those who had supported the former general in imposing the emergency should also be prosecuted.

"November 3, 2007, has become a history and it was the first time in the history of Pakistan when a dictator targeted the judiciary instead of the parliament and other institutions," The Daily Times quoted Ahmed, as saying.

Responding to a question, he said the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) had already expired in 2008, and that President Asif Ali Zardari could opt not to appear before any court as Article 248 of the Constitution permits him to do so.

Earlier, during his speech at the association, Wajihuddin, stressed on the need of addressing the 'real issues' facing the country and said that a large part of the population was still deprived of justice.

--ANI