DOES THE GHQ HIGH COMMAND CONSIDER GENERAL PERVEZ MUSHARRAF A SECURITY RISK?  ALTAF HUSSAIN

Karachi -- 25 December 2001
The MQM Founder and Leader Mr Altaf Hussain questioned the GHQ High Command in Pakistan whether they lost confidence in their COAS Gen. Pervez Musharraf?  Do they consider him a security risk for the country?  Is that the reason why Pervez Musharraf did not attend the crucial meeting on the country’s defence issues?  Mr Altaf Hussain was addressing a large gathering of MQM Medical Aid Committee, Para-medical staff, members of MQM Co-ordination Committee and workers of the MQM.

Mr Altaf Hussain pointed out that today’s newspapers contain a news report that a very important meeting of the Joint Staff Committee was held to consider the country’s defence strategy but the COAS General Pervez Musharraf did not participate in the meeting.  According to the report Gen. Pervez Musharraf did not participate so that in his absence the commanders could discuss all the issues freely without feeling any pressure.  Mr Altaf Husssain said that he finds the absence of the COAS from a meeting where crucial matters about the nations defences are being discussed as inconceivable.  He asked whether the presence of the COAS could ever be considered a cause of pressure upon the commanders?  He asked the GHQ High Command to inform the people of Pakistan whether there had been an occasion in the 54-year history of the country when the GHQ conducted their meetings on crucial defence matters without the participation of the COAS when he is present in Rawalpindi.  Mr Altaf Hussain further asked the GHQ High command whether the positions of Gen Pervez Musharraf and Retired General Moin Haider have become purely ceremonial?