Pakistan: Musharraf’s dilemma

General Pervaz Musharraf has been unable to appear before the court yet again on January 2. This time it wasn’t any bomb laid in his way that prevented the former military ruler from reaching the court. It so happened that a sudden pain appeared in Musharraf’s chest and his car had to be diverted towards the combined military hospital. He was admitted in the intensive care unit. A medical board has been constituted to diagnose him and to decide whether he should be treated in Pakistan or abroad. Musharraf’s trial under Article 6 has so far passed through unusual impasses, creating suspicion about the entire case, especially over the possible role of the intelligence agencies in getting the matter delayed. Musharraf on the other hand has been suspicious of the government’s intentions. He considers the creation of a special court, the selection of judges and the choice of the prosecutor a ploy to take revenge from him. Lately he has said that as a military man his case cannot be heard but in a military court. The question is that when Musharraf took over the reins of power, was this in the civilian sphere or the military? He has been donning the hats of both the president and that of the chief of army staff. He got his presidency ratified from his self-designed parliament through an amendment in the constitution. However, upholding the sanctity of the office of the president and Chief of Army Staff, the court has refused to issue his arrest orders. The case has also been adjourned until January 6 due to his indisposition.

Though it is all hazy and nothing could be said for certain if Musharraf will be tried at all or not, if the government had shown even an iota of political will this case would have had a different feel. A feel of justice and not what is being called a vendetta. Resurrecting the spectre of November 3, 2007, and keeping the skeletons of the 1999 coup hidden shows that a deliberate case is being created to single out Musharraf. This atonement for others’ sins by one person might not go down well internationally. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Saud-al-Faisal is arriving in Pakistan on January 6. He might be coming with some proposal to get the former military ruler out of the country. Saudi Arabia has been instrumental in getting Nawaz Sharif out of hot water after the 1999 coup that toppled his government. Musharraf had listened to Saudi Arabia then in favour of Nawaz Sharif. It might now be Nawaz Sharif’s turn to listen to the kingdom’s voice in favour of Musharraf.