Pakistan Presidency denies ’special cell’ working to protect Musharraf

ISLAMABAD - The Presidency in Pakistan has rejected reports of protecting former President General Pervez Musharraf from being tried under the High Treason Act (Article 6) of the Constitution.

A Presidency statement described such reports as baseless and an attempt to malign the office.

It may be recalled that an article titled ‘Musharraf still has roots in Presidency’ in The News had created a furor in the country’s political establishment.

According to the report, a cell in the Presidency has been entrusted with the task of safeguarding Musharraf’s interests.ommenting on the report, President Zardari’s press secretary said it is ridiculous to even think about such an idea.

According to the article, the ’special cell’ was inactive earlier, but ever since the Supreme Court gave its historic verdict declaring Musharraf’s November 3,2007 acts as illegal, it had become active.

Interestingly, the whole staff around the president is unchanged, including his security personnel and presidential protocol staff.

“It is a known fact that former president General Pervez Musharraf resigned from the office after striking a deal and it was part of the deal that his interests would be looked after he quit. He was assured that he would be provided all safeguards against any odds after leaving the Presidency,” the report said.

It also claimed that a report about the activities and statements of Musharraf has been put up to Zardari regularly.

“He studies the report and issues directions with regard to that from time to time after consulting his associates,” the report further said. (ANI)