Action against judges was constitutional, legal: Musharraf

With the Pakistan Supreme Court issuing him summons for deposing over 60 members of the judiciary during his tenure, former President Pervez Musharraf has said the step taken by him was absolutely "constitutional and legal" and he was ready to face any action.

With the Pakistan Supreme Court issuing him summons for deposing over 60 members of the judiciary during his tenure, former President Pervez Musharraf has said the step taken by him was absolutely "constitutional and legal" and he was ready to face any action.

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In an interview to Karan Thapar on his Devil's Advocate programme, he said, "...what happened after that was bad and that led to a lot of turmoil in Pakistan, certainly. But if you say whether that was a mistake? No. I took action which was absolutely constitutional and legal".

Asked if he stood by his decisions, Musharraf replied, "Absolutely". Asked if he was worried of facing law suits in Pakistan, Musharraf said, "Well I know that whatever I did was legally indentified by the courts, by the assembly, so therefore...one has to face realities on ground, and I'll face them". "...I am not a man who runs away from realities," he added.

The former President, however, conceded that handling of the situation was shabby. "Yes, the handling, I would say, was shabby," Musharraf said.