Musharraf security a high-risk job

[LRE]

Musharraf security a high-risk job



Saturday, August 16, 2008

By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir

ISLAMABAD: The security bosses are extremely worried about the security of President Pervez Musharraf if a decision about granting him permission to stay within the country is made once he steps down. He would become 'potential high risk' after coming out of the fortified Presidential Palace and the security chaps ar.e expressing their inability to provide him protection in that eventuality.

Those expected to be entrusted his security are being advised by their near and dear ones to refuse to take such a responsibility.

Musharraf will not be entitled to military protection once he relinquishes the post of the president. In the absence of advanced jamming system against remote control explosives and non-availability of bulletproof shielding would make him more vulnerable to any attempt (on his life). The satellite security system will also not be available to him to provide him advance information about any untoward movement on his route of travelling.

The security of former presidents is vested in police and its special branch and elements after Pervez Musharraf could easily dodge the police arrangements. President Musharraf is working on two options with regard to his imminent resignation. He could submit to the speaker National Assembly either a one line resignation or a point by point response to the charge-sheet to be unfolded by the government any time from now.

The text of both the announcements is ready with the president and he is consulting his close legal experts to fine-tune it. The decision about the mode of his quitting has delayed the announcement.

President Pervez Musharraf had marathon consultations with his old constitutional experts including Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, Abdul Hafiz Pirzada, Malik Qayyum and Senator S M Zafar these days. The later three again met him on Friday on the desire of the president.

It is understood that the so-called political and constitutional experts, who have been discarded by their respective communities, are advising the president to resort to some sort of adventurism as in that eventuality they might become beneficiaries of the broken system.

Highly placed sources told The News that the security personnel are perturbed over the speculation that President Pervez Musharraf could stay back in the country in the event of resignation. He at the same time has hinted to stay in his Islamabad house at Chak Shehzad where he had built his house adjacent to an agro-farm last year.

The president is currently availing the security of armed forces as its supreme commander. He will be left with one orderly provided to any former army general. As former president he is entitled to have a house, car, private secretary, unlimited telephone facility, pension, and free medical treatment both locally and abroad including his dependants and other family members and two civilian security guards.

In case the president is impeached he could be deprived of all the facilities and benefits. Ironically President Musharraf has developed animosity with Pakhtun and Baloch ethnicities of the country. He would be on the hit list of various Sindhi groups because of the killing of Benazir Bhutto. The religious circles are also highly critical of Pervez Musharraf. If he stays in Pakistan the political stability would remain a dream as Pakistan Muslim League (PML) led by Nawaz Sharif would not tolerate him as a free citizen. The PML-N would continue to ask for his trial and it could become a source of confrontation between various political forces. The ladies of Musharraf family are also opposed to the idea of staying back in Pakistan after leaving the office since they consider it would be highly dangerous for him to live in the country once he loses the security curtains.

Fear has been expressed that the security personnel could refuse to perform duties with him after he is out of the office. He narrowly survived two massive attempts on his life in recent years that also killed a number of innocent people.

The sources said the president could resign from the office under Article 44 of the Constitution. Clause (3) of this article says, "The President may, by writing under his hand addressed to the Speaker of the National Assembly, resign his office." The impeachment process is carried out under Article 47 of the constitution that deals with the matter with the words "Removal (or impeachment) of President.

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Constitution, the President may, in accordance with the provisions of this Article, be removed from office on the ground of physical or mental incapacity or impeached on a charge of violating the Constitution or gross misconduct.

(2) Not less than one-half of the total membership of either House may give to the Speaker of the National Assembly or, as the case may be, the Chairman written notice of its intention to move a resolution for the removal of, or, as the case may be, to impeach, the President; and such notice shall set out the particulars of his incapacity or of the charge against him.

(3) If a notice under clause (2) is received by the Chairman, he shall transmit it forthwith to the Speaker.

(4) The Speaker shall, within three days of the receipt of a notice under clause (2) or clause (3), cause a copy of the notice to be transmitted to the President.

(5) The Speaker shall summon the two Houses to meet in a joint sitting not earlier than seven days and not later than fourteen days after the receipt of the notice by him.

(6) The joint sitting may investigate or cause to be investigated the ground or the charge upon which the notice is founded.

(7) The President shall have the right to appear and be represented during the investigation, if any, and before the joint sitting.

(8) If, after consideration of the result of the investigation, if any, a resolution is passed at the joint sitting by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of [Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)] declaring that the President is unfit to hold the office due to incapacity or is guilty of violating the Constitution or of gross misconduct, the President shall cease to hold office immediately on the passing of the resolution."

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