Musharraf's trial 'need of the hour': Sharif

Islamabad, July 25 (ANI): Supporting the Supreme Court's decision to summon former President General Pervez Musharraf, former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said the military ruler's trial was the 'need of the hour'.

Sharif said Musharraf must be tried and punished for "breaching the constitution".

"Such a man deserves to be tried and imprisoned instead of being given guard of honour," The Nation quoted Sharif, as saying over telephone from London.

Sharif lambasted Musharraf for deposing him from the Prime Minister's chair and leading a coup against an elected government in 1999.

"Independent judiciary by accepting my right to be elected and by scraping the so-called plane hijacking and helicopter cases has already proven that a power-hungry dictator had made a coup against my elected government," he said.

Sharif, however, clarified that he has no personal grudge against Musharraf, but said he should be brought to justice for "flirting with the Constitution".

Meanwhil, a senior PML-N leader Tehmina Doltana has demanded an immediate trial of Musharraf under war crime charges.

Addressing a Press conference in Lahore, Doltana said Musharraf's crimes were so 'horrific' that he must be tried for his misdeeds without any delay.

She blamed Musharraf for the current turmoil in the country saying the unrest in Balochistan, overall terrorism in the country, and drone attacks were the legacy of the Musharraf era.

"If Pakistan had not been de-tracked again and again by military adventures, today we would not have been staring in the face of total gloom. I absolutely have no doubt that all the problems that we face today, including extremism and militancy, would not have raised their head if there were not the military coups," Doltana said. (ANI)