» 01/24/2012 09:06 PAKISTAN Pakistani Senate "unanimously" approves Musharraf arrest The motion passed the upper house this morning. The former president is accused of high treason under Article 6 of the Constitution and involvement in the murder of Benazir Bhutto. Resignation in 2009, he lives in exile. Recently had expressed the intention to return to the country of origin.
Islamabad (AsiaNews / Agencies) - In a resolution voted unanimously this morning, the Senate called for the arrest of former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf. He is accused of high treason under Article 6 of the Constitution. The resolution of the Upper House received the approval of the whole political spectrum and was presented by Raza Rabbani, Senator of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), head of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry on National Security (PCNS).
Among the alleged charges against Musharraf: the repeal - on two occasions – of the Constitution and damage to national security, having made alliances with the United States, having granted the U.S. military bases and damaged the honor of Judge head of the Supreme Court Iftikhar Chaudhry, the former general is also accused of emptying the provincial coffers, causing severe economic losses and financial.
Rabbani also accuses Musharraf of plotting to eliminate nationalist leader of Balochistan and involvement in the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, wife of current President Asif Ali Zardari.
Pervez Musharraf came to power in 1999 in an army coup and remained in office until August 2009 when he had to resign to avoid impeachment proceedings brought by the Parliament. Since then, he has spent his time in Britain and the United Arab Emirates in a sort of self-imposed exile. He had recently announced plans to return to Pakistan between 27 and 30 January, but has - explain some sources - postponed plans to return "on the advice of some friends and close associates."
In recent days, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has assured the senators that no sooner he sets foot in the country, Musharraf will be arrested: "I assure the House - said the minister - that if he lands in Pakistan, [Musharraf] will be arrested for 'apparent involvement in the murder of Benazir Bhutto. "
