Daylife/Reuters Pictures used by permission
Lawyers dance in celebration outside Karachi Bar Association

Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf faces an extended exile, possibly in Britain, following a court ruling that has paved the way for a possible – although unlikely – treason prosecution.

Celebrating lawyers danced on the steps of the supreme court after a 14-judge bench ruled that Musharraf acted illegally when he suspended the constitution and imposed a six-week period of emergency rule on 3 November 2007. At the time, the rule was seen as a gambit by Musharraf to strengthen his grip on power. After a long struggle, he was forced from office a year ago.

The court ruling was delivered by chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, whose attempted removal by Musharraf in March 2007 sparked a protest movement that eventually led to the general’s downfall…

Neither Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup, nor his lawyers attended the court hearing. The retired general left Pakistan for Britain two months ago, reportedly at the urging of the army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani, who wanted to remove all political distractions as the army fought the Taliban along the Afghan border…

Talat Masood, a retired general and former Musharraf confidante, said it was unlikely he would return to Pakistan soon. “He will stay away and the army will advise him to stay away,” he said…”

According to the ruling, all judges who swore allegiance to Musharraf will now be sacked. Also, some 37 laws passed during the emergency period will be subject to review by parliament.

I wonder which country Bush or Cheney would choose for exile?




  1. Yalie says:

    I wonder which country Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton would choose for exile?

  2. deowll says:

    Bush chose Texas. I you do like it I suggest you stay in your state. They shoot vermin in Texas.

  3. right says:

    Yalie, we all know you meant Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rove, Albert1 etc.
    The prospect of trial for these criminals is a sweet thought and keeps many of us on life support.

  4. moss says:

    They vote for vermin in Texas.

  5. Rex says:

    Death to tyrants!

  6. MikeN says:

    This is funny, because Musharraf took over in a coup, and had to be talked into not executing the previous guy, letting him be exiled instead.

  7. Animal Mother says:

    Only idiots and morons come from Texas.

  8. sargasso says:

    Pervez Musharraf, coming to a Tube station queue, near you.

  9. Uncle Patso says:

    # 7 Animal Mother said:

    “Only idiots and morons come from Texas.”

    I agree that some of your oddest legislators and other politicians come from Texas (just see some of Molly Ivins’ early columns for proof), but they are far from the only people from there. Lloyd Doggett, one of the most thoughtful and effective liberal politicians represents Texas in Congress; other notable Texans include Barbara Jordan, Sandra Day O’Connor, Tex Avery, Carol Burnett, Erykah Badu, Lisa Loeb, John Henry Faulk, Van Cliburn, Stevie Ray Vaughan; there are many more.

    So, yes, Texans do elect quite a few odd politicians, but they’re not the only ones…

  10. ethorad says:

    #7: Don’t you mean queers and steers?


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