The verdict

EDIORIAL: FRONTIER POST

It is a tremendous ruling that the Supreme Court has handed down in the famous Asghar Khan case, a verdict indeed of the century. An epoch-making ruling it is in every manner and fully eventful it must become by carrying it to its logical conclusion in line with the roadmap the apex court has laid down in its order for its execution. No laxity is admissible on this count. Bonapartism and praetorian political adventurism have indeed been the bane of this nation ever since its inception. That should be put paid to now for good. A landmark in the attainment of that sublime objective would certainly be this monumental judgment of the apex court, when executed in letter and spirit, which it must be in any event and at every cost.The military or the agencies have no business whatsoever to meddle in politics. The constitution forbids them from it, and so does the law. But it is equally important that the politicians too should not become part of their political engineering works. Imagine for a moment would there have been an IJI, had no politicians fallen to the bait of the generals engaged in the cobbling up of this entity to influence the 1990 election against the PPP? Indisputably, it would have not been. The IJI came into being simply because some politicians were out there ready to board this gravy train. Nobody put guns to their heads and bullied them into this adventurist contrivance of the establishment. They hopped on to the IJI bandwagon willingly and volitionally. If indeed a politician is so weak-willed as to easily succumb to any coercive pressures, he verily is not fit to be a leader. He unarguably doesn't have the credentials of being a leader. And if he gets tempted or enticed by the allurements of pelf and power, he is bereft of even the probity and integrity that are the essentials of a true leader. But if our chaquered history is replete with Bonapartist and praetorial adventurisms, isn't it blemished with the ignoble falls of the politicians as well? How often have they joined hands with the incoming military rulers to give a civilian face to their repressive regimes? And how often have they celebrated joyously when their political adversaries' governments were sacked by the authoritative presidents? All that is on record, shamefully. Even now it is not uncommon to hear the taunts being hurled self-servingly to the garrisons as to why are they sitting idly by while the country "is going to the dogs". It isn't rare either that those abusing and vilifying the military in the sunshine of the day have felt no qualms in meeting the people in the garrisons in the thick darkness of night. So how will Bonapartism or praetorial adventurism come to an end if some malleable personages are always out there to sell their souls for the shine of lucre and office? So disgusting it really is that some of the eminences allegedly involved in the IJI project and took money were no paupers. Quite a lot of them were filthy rich. Indeed, so rich that they could easily buy half of a town with just a part of their fabulous riches. Yet they stooped so low that they even took nickels variously from their handlers to do their biddings.Anyway, now that the apex court has shown the light, it should not be allowed to be dimmed in any manner. The people at large must watch out, as the political echelons, civil society groups and chattering classes cannot be trusted. They already are deflecting the focus in their own lights. While the faulting two generals and their collusive banker must be proceeded against strictly as directed by the apex court, the FIA must prove true to the trust the honourable court has reposed in it by conducting an honest, transparent and credible investigation against the politicians who allegedly took money from the IJI founders. Indeed, those still alive from amongst them, if they still have some sense of shame, must abdicate from politics until they get their names cleared in the probe. An exemplary action and punishment to both the erring generals and politicians in the IJI saga alone could possibly shut the door on Bonapartism and praetorian political adventurism once and for all. If any of them goes scot-free, the door will certainly remain open partly.