Daily Times

Times are testing for ex-president Pervez Musharraf but even more testing is the muddle the present government seems to have found itself in. Putting the former head of state on trial has been a wish for many elements in the present government and certain members of the judiciary but now that his treason petitions are very real entities in the apex court, it seems that attitudes, particularly belonging to those heading the present dispensation, have shifted ever so subtly. Reluctance seems to have replaced urgency when it comes to pursuing the matter of Musharraf’s treason; first the interim government used the excuse of putting the conduct of free and fair elections first, making the courts wait until the new government was sworn in. Now the court is very publicly, and loudly, announcing that the treason petitions against Musharraf will be heard on a day-to-day basis. Attorney General Munir Malik seems to have been skirting the issue of actually pursuing the case making it seem as if the PML-N government is being dragged in to partake in the cases against Musharraf. Mr Malik initially asked the apex court to grant 30 days for the federal government to file its answer but was only permitted three days to which the attorney general voiced the need for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the matter. He, however, failed to mention how much time that would require. Saying “as soon as possible” just does not make it seem as though the federal government’s heart is really in pursuing this case.

Musharraf may just face trial for his actions on October 1999 when he took over government in a bloodless coup from Nawaz Sharif, exiling the now prime minister to Saudi Arabia. He also faces possible action for declaring an emergency in November 2007 when he sacked all the senior judges of the upper judiciary. It is because of these actions that Musharraf is being held accountable for violating the constitution on two separate occasions. It seems the PML-N, whilst publicly creating a hue and cry for the initiation of these cases, is now beginning to understand that following up on these cases could hold the potential for stirring a hornet’s nest in which not just the former dictator but all those associated with the cases might just be hauled up. First of all, it was the senior most judiciary, including the present chief justice, that swore Musharraf in after his coup; was it not against the constitution then? It really does seem as if a Pandora’s box will be pried open and then who is to say who will and will not be implicated? Should the country initiate treason cases against all military dictators who have usurped power since 1958? That will never be an option so why is Musharraf being singled out?

The government has other issues it needs to worry about. Terrorism is on the rise with attacks being reported every day; maybe that is why Chaudhry Nisar has categorically been saying that Musharraf does not represent the army and that the two are separate entities. Initiating and pursuing a case against Musharraf at this juncture has the potential to alienate the army and the government cannot afford to do that with the ever increasing need to have the army fight terrorism. There is an energy crisis that has uprooted life for every citizen in the country and an extremely disappointing economy that will be difficult to recover from. The government has to choose its priorities and issues very carefully, and the country will wait and watch. *