Former dictator and president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf is in the hot seat. While his arrival was met with a tepid response, no one should be surprised by the noose tightening around his neck. At first, his name was put on the Exit Control List (ECL) despite the Sindh High Court (SHC) granting Musharraf protective bail for 21 days — a court appearance during which a shoe was thrown at him by an angry protester. Most recently, his nomination papers for the Kasur NA-139 constituency have been rejected because of his involvement in four cases still pending in the courts: he is implicated in the Benazir Bhutto, Nawab Akbar Bugti, Laal Masjid and missing persons cases. Now the Supreme Court (SC) has accepted an application accusing him of committing treason under Article 6 of the constitution. This is not shaping up to be Musharraf’s fifteen minutes of fame. The former dictator has enjoyed his freedom in exile for the last four years now, far from the crowds demanding justice in all four cases. Musharraf, in his delusions of grandeur, did not anticipate that his army mantle may not be enough to save him from being dragged over the coals in this feverish political climate where even veteran politicians and lawmakers are being scrutinised and reprimanded for their alleged corruption and lies. Musharraf has proved to be rather foolhardy in thinking that he would be able to waltz his way into the country in the hope of winning something in these elections. His is no ordinary case of political crime and deception; he faces some serious charges including his role in the murder of a former prime minister and governor/chief minister. Treason carries the ultimate punishment and could prove to be the coup-maker’s worst nightmare. Pakistan’s history is replete with dictators and coup makers getting away with their crimes, unscathed by the laws of this land. Even Ziaul Haq, whose policies have brought this country to its knees, has not received his just desserts even after being incinerated in a plane crash. The harsh steps being taken against Musharraf could very well see the beginning of a precedent being set to ward off all those who inherently oppose democracy. He must be tried with the full force of the law and, if his guilt is proved in any or all of the above cases, he must be punished accordingly. There have been too many roadblocks in this country’s long and treacherous path towards political stability; let justice be finally served to discourage future would-be coup makers. *