Flight to safety?

Even before our former military strongman missed a heartbeat on way to court for the high-profile treason trial, murmurs of some kind of exit strategy being forged for him were already in the air. His falling sick midway through his commute to the special court premises on January 2 has only given more grist to the rumour mills. To top it all, news reports suggest that the government is considering giving the retired general a safe passage out of the country as part of a covert deal. Giving credence to this likely emerging scenario is the visit of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al Faisal, who is due to arrive on January 6. While the Foreign Office was at pains to emphasise that the Saudi dignitary’s upcoming trip was pre-scheduled and had nothing to do with General (retd) Musharraf’s legal troubles, the discreet ones among the chattering classes are likely to take this explanation with a pinch of salt.



If the former president quietly leaves the country under a clandestine pact, possibly brokered by foreign hands, it will be the re-enactment of an identical arrangement fashioned for his arch nemesis now occupying the seat of power. General (retd) Musharraf’s latest health scare could be the convenient fig leaf for his unhindered departure, or that is what many an astute observer of Pakistan may feel. While we cannot vouch for the accuracy or otherwise of reports appearing in the media vis-a-vis the behind-the-scenes goings-on, the turn of events do incline us to conclude that things may well lead to such an eventuality. What, for example, does the discovery of improvised explosive devices close to his farmhouse — not on one, but three occasions — signify? A vicious effort by his foes to harm him or a calibrated ploy by his devotees to rid him of the embarrassment of appearing in court? You never know. The ex-president’s previous pronouncements that he intended to clear himself of all the charges in the court of law with dignity and honour are in fact the right approach and we hope that he follows that. That things have come this far is a thing of wonder itself.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2014.

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