

There can be no doubt the PML-N government needs to be congratulated for its courage in taking this step. It could prove vital to our future. Doing the “right thing” has never been a pressing priority in the country, especially when it comes to issues related to the military. This time round, things could change. As citizens, we must hope this will indeed happen, setting a key precedent for the future. The appearance of General (retd) Musharraf in court for treason should certainly make others think harder before taking similar steps in undermining democracy, seizing power and subverting the Constitution.
General (retd) Musharraf’s lawyer has immediately dismissed the move as a means to distract people from other problems, such as the energy and the economic crises. But this may be too simplistic a view of the development. The key question for Pakistan will be how the military reacts to the action against General (retd) Musharraf and what the final outcome is to be. Certainly, the court proceedings themselves will be closely followed and each statement made during them carefully noted. This, in itself, is extremely significant in the light of our history, where domination by the military has blighted democracy, and in fact, made it impossible for elected governments to operate. Perhaps, things will now change. We must hope this is the case.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2013.
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