ISLAMABAD: Although fuming and seething with anger over Gen Musharraf’s return to the country and his plans to contest elections from several constituencies of the country, both PPP and PML-N appear reluctant to take the former army chief to the Supreme Court for abrogating the constitution, and instead rely on the ECP and the judiciary to do the job.

In background interviews a number of prominent leaders of the two parties said they considered Gen Musharraf guilty of committing treason under Article 6 for abrogating the country’s constitution, but want the judiciary to take suo motu action against him.

Talking to Dawn, PPP leader and a former federal minister Syed Khurshid Shah asked why the PML-N, which had always criticised the PPP government for allowing Gen Musharraf to leave the country and for not taking action against him under Article 6, was now quietly watching the former dictator roaming freely in the country.

But PML-N’s deputy secretary general Ahsan Iqbal, when contacted, put the responsibility of taking action against Gen Musharraf on the judiciary, and said the Supreme Court in its verdict had already termed the decision of Gen Musharraf to impose emergency on Nov 3, 2007 “an extra-constitutional act”.

Mr Iqbal urged the Election Commission of Pakistan to reject the nomination papers of Gen Musharraf since “he falls in the ambit of Article 6 and breaches Articles 62 and 63”.

“It is very heartening to see that the Supreme Court and the ECP are taking stern action against holders of fake degrees and defaulters of bank loans and utility bills, but the irony is that the dictator who suspended the constitution is freely roaming in the country,” the PML-N leader said.

He alleged that the PPP government did not proceed against Gen Musharraf due to arrangements the party had made with the military ruler under the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

“Now the nation expects the judiciary to take suo motu action against a dictator who played havoc with the constitution, judiciary, media and parliament,” he said.

Replying to a question, Mr Iqbal said the party leadership would soon issue directives to its candidates in constituencies where Gen Musharraf planned to contest polls, to challenge his nomination papers.

On the other hand, PPP’s Syed Khurshid Shah said his party did not want to stop anyone from participating in the elections because it was a democratic right of every citizen. He said it was up to the people of Pakistan to accept or reject a candidate.

Mr Shah, however, said the PPP did not feel any threat from Gen Musharraf in the elections.  He said the retired general should be allowed to have a “taste of real elections” as this would also expose the “referendum drama” which all dictators had staged to legitimise their coups.

A spokesman for Gen Musharraf’s party, the All Pakistan Muslim League said Gen Musharraf was ready to face any situation and was determined to contest elections.

Sources in the party said that Gen Musharraf, staying in his farmhouse in Islamabad, met Saira Bano who is contesting election against PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on NA 120 in Lahore. Ms Bano is a daughter of renowned wrestler Jhara Pehelwan and a cousin of Begum Kalsoom Nawaz, the wife of Mr Nawaz Sharif.