Daily Times

Pervez Musharraf is rather like a cat. He may or may not have nine lives. But he always lands on his feet. At least this is the view from his opponents’ vantage point.

This week, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) dropped a bombshell of sorts: the former military strongman must appear before the Supreme Court on June 13. And in return, Justice Saqib Nisar will personally guarantee his non-arrest.

Musharraf is not being summoned over indictment on five counts of treason but in relation to his appeal against the 2013 Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) ruling.; barring him from contesting elections. For life. Yet Justice Saqib has assured Pakistan’s last military dictator that his nomination papers will be accepted this time around. Though, naturally, everything is subject to the final appeal verdict.

All of which suggests that in today’s democratic Pakistan — it perhaps sucks to be Nawaz Sharif.  Not least because this latest move lends a certain credence to the thrice-elected Prime Minister’s claims that his ousting is part of an orchestrated witch-hunt against him. As things currently stand, he has been denied a five-day leave of compassion from the Avenfield Properties case to visit his ailing wife in London.

The question is: what will it mean for Pakistan? If, that is, the courts now rule in Musharraf’s favour; thereby granting him his heart’s desire to enter the electoral race as a bona fide civvie. Undoubtedly, the country would plunge into political chaos. With the three main parties crying foul play. At least that is how the theory goes.

But here in this hard country, anything is possible. Especially when it comes to saving political skin. Indeed, when Musharraf called the 2002 referendum to legitimise his presidential rule for another five years — he had the support of PTI supremo Imran Khan. Similarly, the deal to afford the former COAS “safe and honourable” exit from Pakistan was sealed by Gen Kayani and Asif Ali Zardari; with the elder Sharif also party to this backroom wheeling-and-dealing.

Which is another way of saying that none of Pakistan’s most prominent politicians have clean hands when it comes to subverting the democratic process. Even as they all wash those same hands of any notions of collective responsibility. And herein lies the rub. For in the latter’s absence, Musharraf, too, can equally talk of a witch-hunt.

In reality, it is unlikely that the former president-general will be allowed to go ballot-boxing next month. For the simple reason that, in the present climate, the atmosphere is too charged. That being said, the timing of his imminent return is significant. For not only has he waited until the fall of Nawaz — but also the dissolution of the PMLN government. So, who really knows?

But truth be told, this is neither here nor there.  Not unless the system of due process is first fixed. For without that — democratic Pakistan has nothing.  *

Published in Daily Times, June 9^th 2018.