ISLAMABAD: Central Information Secretary for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Senator Mushahidullah Khan said on Monday that treason case against former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf would close the doors for future dictators.

Speaking in Senate on a motion regarding political and security situation in the country, he said: “the purpose of treason case against Musharraf is meant for closing the door for dictators to enter into power.”

Mushahidullah took strong exception to the statement of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who had pleaded to start the case from October 1999 and include the names of all those mentioned in the November 3 order of the former president.

He had also claimed that the treason case was initiated to divert the attention of people from problems facing the country.

Senator Mushahidullah also contested the assertions of Chaudhry Shujaat as he mentioned to reports of security agencies regarding decline in crimes in Karachi by 40 per cent.

However, his main focus remained on the treason case as he stated that treason did not mean “a traitor as a serviceman rather it means subversion of the constitution and violation of the oath of the office as a serviceman. Musharraf had abrogated the constitution and then committed that he had done so.”

He said it was for the first time in country's history that any elected government had moved against a former dictator although in the past the politicians had been receiving favors from the Generals.

“This case will stop military intervention into political affairs.”

He said those speaking of starting the proceedings from October 12, 1999 actually did not want any proceedings against Musharraf.

“Had the proceedings been started from October 1999, these politicians might have asked to start it from Ayub Khan and Yahya Khan's era. Actually they do not want proceedings against dictators because their politics originates from establishment.”

He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had clearly stated that there was nothing “revengeful” in the treason case as the Senator asked why those in the power till 2007 did not initiate such a case.

“Actually they could not do it because they have been supporting a dictator and remained in power with his support.”

He said the treason case had been initiated in light of the directions of the Supreme Court and through this case Nawaz Sharif was fighting the case of the political forces in the country.

Mushahidullah said it was for the first time that a dictator was facing a trial and he should not be afraid of the courts and the law of the land.

“Why he rushed to the hospital instead of appearing before the court. It was only because that a dictator, who once used to demonstrate the fists in the Parliament, is now fearing to face the courts.”

He claimed that Musharraf was not suffering from heart disease rather he was peacefully doing the property business in his bed in the hospital and was selling flats in London and Dubai.

“The former president is under no pressure as neither his family is in jail not his house has been raided like he did when he toppled Nawaz Sharif's government in 1999.”

He called upon the political forces in the country to stand united as if today they would support a dictator, tomorrow it would encourage another dictator to grab the power.

“PM Sharif is struggling for supremacy of the constitution, the Parliament and the democracy. So, all the political parties should stand united for this cause,” he said.