DUBAI: The Pakistani community in the United Arab Emirates, where President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has been living in self-exile, received his sentencing to death with mixed reactions.
Musharraf was convicted of high treason and sentenced in absentia by a special court in Islamabad on Tuesday morning.
Abubaker Afendi, a Pakistani businessman based in Dubai, told Arab News this was the first time in 72 years that the courts have taken a strong stance.
“This is the best decision that will go down in history,” he said, adding that Musharraf had all the right to appeal against it.
“It also shows that no one is above the law,” he said.
Javed Khamisani, another Dubai-based businessman, said the sentencing might make certain quarters happy, but he was not in favor of the decision.
“We may have reservations about some of Musharraf’s decisions, but overall he has done the best for Pakistan, as compared to other politicians who have caused the country harm for their personal benefits,” he said and argued that the judiciary has recently taken many “questionable” decisions.
Safa Mansoor, a PR professional with a keen interest in politics, said there should be no sympathy for Musharraf. “He is reaping what he sowed. He made the biggest mistake by participating in the US-led war on terror which killed thousands of Pakistanis,” she said.
“But I also think that Musharraf’s death penalty is harmful to Pakistan’s overall image and could undermine Pakistan army’s sacrifices in the region,” she added.
Housewife Farya Ahmed was of the view that the sentencing was too harsh.
“There are many other leaders who have caused more harm to the country than Musharraf but they are walking free in fact they have been able to get bails,” she said, adding that “Musharraf should have been given a chance to defend himself at least.”
Businessman Omer Khan said the sentencing was an eyewash. “These are all theatrics. If Musharraf, who is very sick, is not coming back to the country, how will he be hanged?”
“Hanging a sick hospitalized man and sending a convict abroad shows how blindly justice is being meted out,” Khan said.
Sidrah Ali, a healthcare professional, said that Musharraf’s eight-year rule was the country’s best ever after 1970. “Our GDP grew by 8.9 percent and he changed the higher education system. He did things for the country which elected rulers have not been able to do. It is unfair to sentence him without a proper trial,” she added.
The president of Musharraf's All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) youth wing in the UAE, Malik Mubasher, told Arab News on Tuesday that “the decision is sudden and was not expected,” and the verdict will be appealed.
“(Party) members protested the verdict and said it was one-sided,” he said, adding that “Musharraf issued a video message one week ago saying that he was very unwell.”
Musharraf, 78, is suffering from amyloidosis, a rare disease caused by a buildup of an abnormal protein called amyloid in organs and tissues throughout the body.
