Interceptor
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2007
- Messages
- 2,005
- Reaction score
- 0
Musharraf still getting protocol in London
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
By Muhammad Ahmad Noorani
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan High Commission (HC) in London has been directed by Islamabad to give former dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf full protocol of ex-president during his stay in London, Pakistans High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Sham-ul-Hassan told The News.
We are bound to act in line with the directions of Islamabad and we have been formally directed by the Foreign Office that Pervez Musharraf should be given the protocol of an ex-president, which we are giving to him, said the high commissioner.
Wajid said the HC used to send a protocol car and a protocol officer to receive and see off Musharraf whenever he arrived or left the UK. He said they also arranged for a VIP lounge for Musharraf but the money was paid by the ex-dictator.
General Musharraf also has at his disposal the services of, at least, 12 regular officers of the Pakistan Army for his security in London, sources in the HC told The News.
A 12-member team of Pakistan Armys regular officers is deputed at Musharrafs luxurious residence situated on the Edgware Road, London, for his security and for providing him daily services. According to sources, this team is being paid a huge amount per month from the national exchequer.
Former chief of the Army staff (COAS) Mirza Aslam Beg, while talking to this correspondent, said that according to the rules and regulations of the Pakistan Army, no such protocol was permissible for an ex-Army chief. Beg disclosed that some years back there was some rule of providing a batman, a PS, a driver and an Army telephone to an Army chief on his retirement. But Benazir Bhutto, during her second tenure as prime minister, had ordered the then COAS Jahangir Karamat to withdraw these facilities from me, Beg said, adding: This rule of providing no facility to an ex-Army chief made on the orders of Benazir Bhutto still prevails.
Beg said no Jawan or officer of the Pakistan Army could be deputed with an Army chief after his retirement for security purposes. Provision of such a facility in a foreign country is simply out of the question. Beg, however, held the present government responsible for this, saying the Army chief on his own could not do so.
Spokesman for the Pakistan Army and DG ISPR Major General Athar Abbas, while talking to The News, however, refuted Mirza Aslam Begs view, saying according to rules, certain number of staff was deputed with an ex-Army chief.
I am not sure for what duration this staff can remain with an ex-Army chief, Athar Abbas said when asked whether this staff had been deputed with Musharraf for some limited time. I will not say more than this, he said when asked whether according to these rules the staff deputed with an ex Army chief was also allowed to move to other countries if the ex-Army chief opted to leave the country.
Musharrafs ex-spokesman Maj-Gen (retd) Rashid Qureshi, who returned to Pakistan recently after meeting his ex-boss in London, when approached by The News to confirm the information simply lost his temper. Everybody has seen your bias and prejudice. No one likes to talk to you. This correspondent failed to understand what he was referring to me, my newspaper, my group or the entire media.
A new self-styled spokesman of Musharraf, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, when approached in London for comments, said: Yes, there are some Army officials deputed with Musharraf but according to my knowledge some of them have resigned from their Army positions.
Saif, however, admitted that this 12-member team was headed by a serving Colonel, Ilyas, of the Pakistan Army. When asked whether according to rules Musharraf, as an ex-Army chief, could have such a protocol, Saif replied that this question should be put to the Pakistan Army.
To a question, Saif said that if an unbiased commission or tribunal was formed for the trial of General Musharraf under the Article-6, the ex-general could appear before it. He said Musharraf was going to the US in early September for delivering lectures and would be free by mid-October. He said he had also received invitations from some South American countries, including Brazil. He said after that, Musharraf would think about returning to Pakistan.
Wajid Sham-ul-Hassan also confirmed to The News that Colonel Ilyas interacted with the HC for matters regarding Musharraf. I dont know how many Army officials have been appointed at Musharrafs residence, he said.
Musharraf still getting protocol in London
---------- Post added at 11:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:21 AM ----------
There goes the rumors he wasn't safe.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
By Muhammad Ahmad Noorani
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan High Commission (HC) in London has been directed by Islamabad to give former dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf full protocol of ex-president during his stay in London, Pakistans High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Sham-ul-Hassan told The News.
We are bound to act in line with the directions of Islamabad and we have been formally directed by the Foreign Office that Pervez Musharraf should be given the protocol of an ex-president, which we are giving to him, said the high commissioner.
Wajid said the HC used to send a protocol car and a protocol officer to receive and see off Musharraf whenever he arrived or left the UK. He said they also arranged for a VIP lounge for Musharraf but the money was paid by the ex-dictator.
General Musharraf also has at his disposal the services of, at least, 12 regular officers of the Pakistan Army for his security in London, sources in the HC told The News.
A 12-member team of Pakistan Armys regular officers is deputed at Musharrafs luxurious residence situated on the Edgware Road, London, for his security and for providing him daily services. According to sources, this team is being paid a huge amount per month from the national exchequer.
Former chief of the Army staff (COAS) Mirza Aslam Beg, while talking to this correspondent, said that according to the rules and regulations of the Pakistan Army, no such protocol was permissible for an ex-Army chief. Beg disclosed that some years back there was some rule of providing a batman, a PS, a driver and an Army telephone to an Army chief on his retirement. But Benazir Bhutto, during her second tenure as prime minister, had ordered the then COAS Jahangir Karamat to withdraw these facilities from me, Beg said, adding: This rule of providing no facility to an ex-Army chief made on the orders of Benazir Bhutto still prevails.
Beg said no Jawan or officer of the Pakistan Army could be deputed with an Army chief after his retirement for security purposes. Provision of such a facility in a foreign country is simply out of the question. Beg, however, held the present government responsible for this, saying the Army chief on his own could not do so.
Spokesman for the Pakistan Army and DG ISPR Major General Athar Abbas, while talking to The News, however, refuted Mirza Aslam Begs view, saying according to rules, certain number of staff was deputed with an ex-Army chief.
I am not sure for what duration this staff can remain with an ex-Army chief, Athar Abbas said when asked whether this staff had been deputed with Musharraf for some limited time. I will not say more than this, he said when asked whether according to these rules the staff deputed with an ex Army chief was also allowed to move to other countries if the ex-Army chief opted to leave the country.
Musharrafs ex-spokesman Maj-Gen (retd) Rashid Qureshi, who returned to Pakistan recently after meeting his ex-boss in London, when approached by The News to confirm the information simply lost his temper. Everybody has seen your bias and prejudice. No one likes to talk to you. This correspondent failed to understand what he was referring to me, my newspaper, my group or the entire media.
A new self-styled spokesman of Musharraf, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, when approached in London for comments, said: Yes, there are some Army officials deputed with Musharraf but according to my knowledge some of them have resigned from their Army positions.
Saif, however, admitted that this 12-member team was headed by a serving Colonel, Ilyas, of the Pakistan Army. When asked whether according to rules Musharraf, as an ex-Army chief, could have such a protocol, Saif replied that this question should be put to the Pakistan Army.
To a question, Saif said that if an unbiased commission or tribunal was formed for the trial of General Musharraf under the Article-6, the ex-general could appear before it. He said Musharraf was going to the US in early September for delivering lectures and would be free by mid-October. He said he had also received invitations from some South American countries, including Brazil. He said after that, Musharraf would think about returning to Pakistan.
Wajid Sham-ul-Hassan also confirmed to The News that Colonel Ilyas interacted with the HC for matters regarding Musharraf. I dont know how many Army officials have been appointed at Musharrafs residence, he said.
Musharraf still getting protocol in London
---------- Post added at 11:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:21 AM ----------
There goes the rumors he wasn't safe.
rest lets not get into f this what if 12 were gone etc ......
power beyond your imagination. Legend says Pir ISI, Sheikh Rasheed, Chaudry Shujaat and Pirzada forged it from pure gold in hell, it was so shinny it would blind the opposition. This mythical lota, no one quite knows its where abouts except Musharraf.
-Fun intended, No offence!
