Pakistan: Musharraf Treason Case

On the floor of National Assembly Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif has given a policy statement on trial of ex-President and retired General Pervez Musharraf. He wants this treason case to go to its logical conclusion, with the consensus and support of all the political parties.

However, some constitutional experts warn that this could open Pandora’s Box. Some experts go to the extent of saying that going further on this sensitive case could destabilize the country, which can prove detrimental to the continuation of PML-N government but more importantly initiating extreme instability in the country.

Some of the experts say that ‘Mian Sahib is running too fast and may lose the breath too early’. They say Mian Sahib should have waited for a while and focused on other pressing issues. In fact the biggest threat is fast changing scenario in Afghanistan, which could have severe impact on Pakistan. United States is directly negotiating with Taliban and also seems adamant at giving a major role to India, which certainly does not bode well for Pakistan.

Some experts go to the extent of saying that ranks and files of Pakistan Army will not tolerate life imprisonment or hanging of a retired General. Some of those who abrogated the Constitution of Pakistan will also have to face the music. If one person has to face the brunt, how can others remain insulated? They refer to Ziaul Haq who made Mian Sahib provincial minister, which led to his deserting the then Prime Minister, Mohammad Khan Junejo, in an attempt to get even closer to Ziaul Haq.

While Mian Sahib seems adamant at punishing Musharraf, a question also has to be answered, who issued instructions not to allow lending of Musharraf’s plane in Pakistan? The point has to be kept in mind that not only the life of Chief of the Staff was put at stake but had the plane ran out of fuel, all the passengers on board would have lost their lives.

Some insiders say that efforts were also made to push the plane into Indian Territory. They say India would have immediately shot down the plane or minimum brought it down, arrested, trialed and hanged the in service General and Chief of the Staff. This would have provided India and ideal opportunity to punish the ‘Kargil Hero’. Over the years Mian Sahib has been saying that Musharraf had taken the decision at his own without even informing him.

One of the conspiracy theories is that United States wishes to close ‘Musharraf Chapter’. This does carry some weight because aircraft carrying Ziaul Haq along with many generals, who played key role in Afghan resistance against USSR, was blown up. Ejazul Haq, son of Ziaul Haq has been saying over the years that blowing up of plane was not an accident but an act of sabotage, in which the US Ambassador in Pakistan and a brigadier general also lost their lives.

Some of the critics say that over the years Pakistan Army and ISI has been maligned badly and pushed to the wall. Musharraf has also been accused of conspiring to kill Akbar Bugti and Benazir Bhutto. Bothe these allegations are aimed at portraying that Army has been involved in some heinous crimes. Interestingly Musharraf is being trialed for issuing instructions to kill or abrogating the Constitution but hardly any action is being taken against those who claim responsibility of killing of dozens of people and attacking sensitive installations.

Courtesy: The Financial Daily