With the case revived, it is now for the incoming government to decide how to tidy the desk in respect of the unfinished business of the past dispensation. The head of the prosecution team resigned on July 30 citing this very reason and saying it was up to the new government to engage a lawyer of their choice in order for the case to proceed further. There has been much to and fro — in May the PML-N government executed the orders of a special court and blocked Musharraf’s passport and CNIC. This move was reversed by the chief justice of Pakistan who was hearing another case against Musharraf and allowed him to return. Confusion all around.
The waters have been further muddied by an unverified but widely circulated video clip of Musharraf seemingly asking a small group of Americans to assist him back into power by covert means if necessary, the hook being that he will protect America from ‘terrorism and radical Islam’ — presumably an implication that neither the current or future governments of the country were going to be as effective at doing that as he was. The clip is undated and only lasts 29 seconds and the gathering it was allegedly filmed at was organised by Jack Rosen who is a lobbyist for the American Jewish Congress. Also present were the former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the head of the National Commission for Human Development. An interesting guests list. If nothing else our former dictator still commands an audience. Whether he will also have his day in court, however, is another matter entirely.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 5th, 2018.
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