The Pakistani expatriate community in the Kingdom remains divided over a ruling issued Tuesday by a Pakistani court charging former military ruler Pervez Musharraf with the 2007 murder of Benazir Bhutto, the then opposition leader and the only woman to become prime minister of Pakistan.

Some support the decision of the court while others disagree.

Assad Sahi, a business management consultant based in Riyadh, said: “When I heard of the recent charges against our former President Musharraf, I breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, our judicial system is not making exceptions for the military, which has thus far remained immune from prosecution or consequences.”

He added: “His military coup was unconstitutional. His false era of prosperity came crashing down the moment he left and he tied his own noose the day he sacked judges and imposed emergency rule. At least one can be proud that nobody is above the law in Pakistan considering our track record of corruption and turning a blind eye to those who have enough money or connections to feel they are above the law.”

Riaz Ahmed, an engineer specializing in water drilling, said: “I don’t agree with him or anything he has done. He did Pakistan no favors. I did have an open mind and was hopeful when he came to power. His timing was right and he came with a convincing slogan of honesty. However, as time passed, he let us and our country down.

“I am happy that noise is being made over what he’s done, but I am also realistic enough and familiar with the laughable judicial system of Pakistan that I know nothing will be proved or come of it,” he added.

Naveed Cheema, whose family is serving in the Pakistani defense force, is disappointed and believes that Musharraf is being framed for deeds he was not a part of, adding that he might be involved in some other controversies of his tenure but that as far as the assassination of Benazir is concerned, there is no logic to frame him for the charges because no substantial evidence against him has been produced in court so far.

Mohammad Riaz, a Riyadh based businessman, said: “For me, it is a case of the better of the two evils. We never had an honest, transparent and philanthropic leader.”

“Our political history has been as scandalous as it has been devastating. Musharraf was no exception to the rule but with his army backing, charisma, and international rapport his era in office was economically successful and the law and order situation was ten times better than in the decades before and after his term as president,” he added.

“I didn’t agree with his decisions toward the end of his term but I feel he is being used as a scapegoat to distract us from the real cause and motives of the assassination of Benazir,” he said.

An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi on Tuesday charged Musharraf with the murder of Benazir Bhutto on three counts. He was charged with murder, criminal conspiracy for murder and facilitation for murder.

Musharraf, the 70-year-old retired general, came to power in Pakistan after a military coup in 1999 and served as president of the country from 2001 to 2008.