ISLAMABAD: A debate is taking place across the country on whether the former president Pervez Musharraf be put to trial under Article 6 of the Constitution or not.

Political leadership seems divided on the issue with some speaking in favour of prosecution of dictators while others question whether it should be Pervez Musharraf to face the action first. And there are still other politicians who are blaming the government for not initiating an action against the former president.

Talking to Geo News former federal minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said if the government has courage it should prosecute all those who abrogated the Constitution. A ban should be put against all the people who supported a military dictator, he added.

Central Information Secretary of Pakistan Muslim League-N, Ahsan Iqbal told Geo News that it is a ‘golden opportunity’ to bring the Constitution violating dictator before the court.

Former federal minister for parliamentary affairs, Dr. Sher Afgan Niazi noted that the Supreme Court has also given remarks against General Iskandar Mirza, General Yahya and General Zia. Therefore, he said, action should be taken against all the generals, journalists and judges who supported the violators of the Constitution starting from 1956.

Some people have strongly supported the idea that any action in this connection should be initiated against all the dictators of the past.

Addressing the assembly yesterday, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said he forgave Musharraf over his resignation; however, if parliament tables a consensus resolution against him, then he would support it.

He said the Leader of the Opposition does not have the majority to get the resolution approved; the judiciary, having played their role, said the rest lies with the parliament.

He also proposed Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) to go for a doable action.

Addressing the National Assembly prior to him, Opposition leader in National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) put into oblivion the pledge regarding the trial of a dictator. LINK