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Musharraf may face trial for war crimes in London
http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=23442
Friday, July 24, 2009
By Murtaza Ali Shah
LONDON: As if the troubles in Pakistan were not enough for former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, a leading Pakistani origin politician in the UK announced to move courts against Musharraf over war crimes here in London.
Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham has stepped up his campaign against the former president. The Labour peer announced yesterday that war crime charges would be brought against Musharraf, who is engaged in making speeches to think tanks and select gatherings here these days.
Lord Ahmed said he had been approached by a number of families who havd suffered at the hands of Musharrafs policies during his nearly nine-year rule. These affected families from Fata, Balochistan, Waziristan and Lal Masjid and other parts of Pakistan feel war crimes have been committed against them. They have suffered directly as a result of the policies of the former dictator, Lord Ahmed told The News yesterday.
A writ will be issued against Musharraf for the war crimes and human rights abuses in Pakistan, he said, adding some of the legal minds involved in pursuing the case against Musharraf will be those who had experience in preparing charges against Chilean army general Augusto Pinochet and had him arrested.
Lord Ahmed said a clear message would be sent to those who believe in taking over ruthlessly from civilians and killing people as they please. Barrister Ch Abid Hussain is assisting Lord Nazeer Ahmed in this case.
Abid told The News a support group had been formed to help the victims families. He said individual sponsors will come forward to support this expensive legal exercise. Lord Ahmed clarified that no Pakistani political party will be asked for funds and it will be individuals who will declare their interest in the case and fund it on record.
It is believed that a press conference will be called very soon here to announce the formal start of the legal proceedings against Musharraf. Lord Ahmed plans to travel to Pakistan within a week as part of his campaign against Musharraf. He will meet members from both the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-N.
