The writer is Editor of The Express Tribune
He has been admitted at the AFIC but we are told that his medical reports will not be made public. Already doctors out of the country are being consulted. This is possibly why there is a general feeling that the former president may finally be leaving the country.
Ever since the start of what promised to be a historic trial, not all has gone according to plan. There have been no-shows and trading of allegations between lawyers. We have seen lawyers from the Musharraf team accusing their state counterparts of being threatened and bullied. The presence of Sharifuddin Pirzada, once called the “Jadoogar of Jeddah” by columnist Ardeshir Cowasjee, leads one to believe that much will happen both within the court and outside it.
Now we are told that our former strongman suffers from heart trouble. His health takes precedence and there may be a plea to allow him to proceed abroad but that is for our Supreme Court to decide. In between, the arrival of Prince Saud Al Faisal, an old Saudi friend, implies that there may be some understanding being brokered which allows freedom to one and face-saving to another.
After all, it was on medical grounds that then ex-PM Mian Nawaz Sharif was allowed to proceed to Saudi Arabia in 2000. It was said at the time that Saud Al Faisal played a key role but the man who wanted Mian Sahab safe was none other than crown prince Abdullah with whom the house of Sharif shares a close personal relationship. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz is now King and may possibly want to return a favour to Musharraf, who listened to wiser counsel when he was Chief Executive to let Mian Sahab leave the country.
It may be recalled that at the time Mian Sahab flew to Saudi Arabia, an Anti Terrorism Court had awarded him life imprisonment in a hijacking case while acquitting all others. One always wondered under what legal cover Mian Sahab left the country, but then one is not a legal expert and loopholes are found aplenty.
Later, this life sentence was quashed as late as 2009 by the Supreme Court, allowing Mian Sahab to resume participation in active politics. But memories linger. And now the tables have turned.
We are told that intense behind the scene negotiations are taking place. The foreign office, however, cautions us to not link the arrival of Prince Saud Al Faisal with a possible exit of General Musharraf.
Some say that the army has spoken. Opposition leader Khurshid Shah has asked the army to comment on the statement by General Musharraf earlier when he had told an interviewer that the army was with him on the issue of the trial against him.
The question is: what next? Shaikh Rasheed, who served as a close ally of General Musharraf when the general took power and worked for several years as his spokesman, now says that the writing is on the wall and that Musharraf will soon leave. Rasheed is now a bitter critic of Musharraf, and an ally of the PTI. The world comes full circle.
But PML-N leaders say that the former army chief will stay in the country and the trial against him will proceed. MQM leader Altaf Hussain has added a new dimension to the Musharraf trial as well. Chaudhry Shujaat gives his two cents worth too.
Either way, what we do see is that the trial may not be taking place in the manner that we wanted it to. Also, there is an argument from the Musharraf side that says that all those guilty should be taken to court, not just the prime candidate. Actions in Pakistan do not take place in isolation. And the crimes General sahib is accused of are no exception.
We are told that the Musharraf trial itself was a diversion. If that is the case, then this too may fizzle out. And with it, any chance of bringing to book those who defied our constitution. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2014.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
COMMENTS (7)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Author If 'WAAR' was a big hit in Pakistan, you have penned an excellent script which can be made into a super hit film, named 'BHAAG MUSHARRAF BHAAG'.
"The more things change, the more they stay the same." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ You are talking about Loadhsedding are you?
Ex PM Gilani is cursing his advisers +++++++++++++++++++++++++ They did not emphasise the security threats and the heart attack. He might have been the PM for full five year term.
Also talked about,will be the 'Reference',sent by President Musharraf to the Supreme Judicial Council ( SJC),against the CJ iftikhar Chaudry.If that, reference was heard by the SJC as per the constitution,Nov 3,2007 Emergency would not have been proclaimed.One must remember how the CJ avoided that trial.So violation of Article 209 of the constitution by the Supreme Court ultimately led to holding of some parts of the constitution in 'abeyance' for about 43 days.There after the normal system of governance was put back on rails which is still in vogue. So,if there is any case of treason it could be that of Oct 99 but not the present one.
Musharraf will publish a sequel to his autobiography 'In the line of fire'. It will be called, 'on the road to high court'.
From the perspective of the common man it matters not what happens to Musharraf because in his mind all our leaders have failed us. What matters more is the human drama involved and Musharraf now truely in the ' line of fire ' is behaving very unsoldierly. The public memory is not so short as to forget ZAB's behaviour under similar conditions.
An excellent article with the right name, "a detour to remember". Indeed, the story of the Delhi born Mr Parvez Musharaf will be remembered for all times to come. He was.appointed the military chief and he appointed himself like several before him as the Ruler of the Country. His uniqueness being that he is a Con Man and used this trick everyime some one try to trap him. He is now in intensive care unit, the normal procedure used for those who complain of heart pain. No medical procedure has todate been established to ascertain the extent of the pain other than the dosage of the pain killer medicine each individual asks for. For all practical purpose the guy has left the country, the DRIP and complete REST are provided to heart patients until their conditions are fully investigated and appropriate treatment procedures are completed. The Saudi favours for Pakistan rulers or ex rulers are not gratis but due to the defence that Pakistan provides for the Holy Kingdom.
Rex Minor