Islamabad: An inquiry by a judge of Pakistan’s Federal Shariat Court (FSC) has determined that former president Pervez Musharraf, his political allies and former prime minister Shaukat Aziz were responsible for the 2007 Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) operation in Islamabad.
Around 100 people were killed in the operation aimed against militants holed up in the mosque, triggering a wave of reprisal attacks by extremist groups in the country causing heavy casualties.
The report of the inquiry conducted by FSC judge Shehzada Shaikh on the directive of the Supreme Court has been made public, adding to the troubles of the arrested former military ruler.
The report, already submitted to the Supreme Court, recommends that criminal cases should be registered against those responsible for the mosque operation and suggested that the former rulers should be forced to pay compensations to the aggrieved families.
Musharraf escaped from Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises on Thursday after it cancelled his interim bail in a case dating back to 2007 emergency clampdown by him. But police took him into custody the next day.
He was produced before an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Saturday, which granted his 14-day judicial remand and his farmhouse residence was declared a sub-jail where he is now lodged. Police will take him to the court again on May 4.
The authorities of the Adyala Jail in Rawalpindi have assumed control at the sub-jail where Musharraf is being lodged according to the prison rules.
Meanwhile, Musharraf’s party spokesman said the former military ruler is being held in “isolation” in his luxury farmhouse, confined to two rooms and stripped of his personal staff.
Mohammad Amjad, spokesman for Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League party, complained on Sunday that his lawyers and staff were being denied access to him.
“General Musharraf is being kept in isolation,” Amjad told reporters outside the former army chief’s heavily guarded residence in Islamabad.
“I was not allowed to have a meeting with him. His family members are not allowed to see him. He has been allocated two rooms in the farmhouse and his movements are confined in those rooms. His personal staff have been removed.”
