If Musharraf
Is to Be Favorably Remembered in History
By Perwaiz Ahmad
Fullerton, CA
The
deportation of Nawaz Sharif from Islamabad airport
after seven years of exile (self- imposed or forced,
yet to be determined), was a slap in the face
of the Supreme Court. Rumor has it that it was
orchestrated by Washington and Saudi Arabia as
their new kid on the block. If not true, then
what is preventing Islamabad to try him in a court
of law? The defendant is volunteering to submit
to a court of law, he is not running away from
the law. Someone else is, so it seems!
This is a clear example of "One Man Rule"
in Pakistan, who thinks that one mind is better
than two and, what is more, he knows best what
is best for the country. It is my belief that
he is being used by the "Invisible Group"
that has demonstrated that it wants power at any
cost. It has used Ayub Khan, then Yahya Khan,
then Gen Zia and now Gen Musharraf to continue
with its mission.
This event, as shameful as it was for all Pakistanis,
is a blatant act of the violation of basic human
rights of a citizen of Pakistan and a willful
contempt of court. Nawaz Sharif has been saying
it loud and clear, all along, to let him return
to Pakistan, to try him in a court of law, and
if convicted, throw him behind bars. The action
by the government is morally as well as legally
wrong because it is in defiance of a ruling of
the Supreme Court and a provision of the Constitution
of Pakistan, Article 15, which protects the rights
of the citizen to return to their homeland when
and if they please. How can I forget the words
of Gen Zia, who exploited religion to stay in
power for eleven years, "The Constitution
is just a piece of paper"? His fate was sealed
the day he uttered those words.
It is quite disconcerting to see that while Mr.
Musharraf's regime is negotiating with Benazir,
who has a long list of charges against her, it
does not allow the other former Prime Minister
who is also accused of crimes to enter the country.
If they are both crooks they must be treated in
the same way, i.e. both should be disqualified
or both should be allowed to contest in the next
elections, if cleared by the courts. Why is a
preferential treatment being given to one and
justice is being denied to the other? Musharraf
and his government remind me of the Mughal era
when the King owned the land and all resources
and ruled the subjects as he pleased. There was
no accountability, no distinction between right
and wrong; whatever pleased the monarch was accepted.
Our 1958, 1977 and 1999 experiences have proved
that the military does not come to power by default
but by design, i.e. with the collaboration of
external forces, including Saudi Arabia. Now we
see that even Saudi Arabia, a low profile country,
not a Super power by any means, is wielding its
influence to obstruct justice in Pakistan and
slowly chip away the sovereignty of Pakistan.
How can the custodians of the Kaaba Sharif side
with the party that circumvents truth, that does
not care about the masses, that has done little
if anything to alleviate poverty and increase
the standard of life in 32 years it has been at
the helm of power. They don't ask Pakistan when
they behead a common man, foreigners/citizens
alike, accused of crimes in the most inhumane
way based on disputable Gospel but they do volunteer
to shelter the corrupt leaders of other countries.
If Musharraf wants to be favorably remembered
in history he should immediately form an interim
government, without importing one from abroad,
step down, and contest the forthcoming general
elections as a civilian.
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