Musharraf’s trial

The fact that the former commando general opted to resign instead of facing the humiliation of the impending impeachment did not emanate from any love of the country, as he would have us believe. It was a decision based on the abject ground reality as it evolved after the passage of resolutions by overwhelming majority by the four provincial assemblies calling on him to secure a fresh vote of confidence from his electorate, or face the impeachment. Also, it was reflective of the reality that he had lost all his other so-called support planks that he depended upon: the army and the judiciary. This, inter alia, took care of his option of using 58-2(b) to dissolve the government and the assemblies. The ranting and raving of the miracles that he had bequeathed upon the country and its people was an effort to perpetuate a myth that has long since evaporated.

Sadly, it is also clear that, under immense international pressure particularly from the United States of America and its bully-in-chief, the United Kingdom, his resignation was the culmination of a sordid behind-the-scenes deal that criminal and legal proceedings would not be initiated against him if he agreed to quit. It is difficult to state with certainty whether the understanding had the backing of all the political allies of the coalition though it seems difficult to fathom that such a critical decision could have been taken without every one having been on board. One is, therefore, constrained to believe that the principal demand of the people of Pakistan has been sacrificed at the altar of expediency by the ruling coalition. The demand of Musharraf’s trial for a variety of constitutional violations and involvement in efforts to sow seeds of disunity and discontent among the people of Pakistan had the backing of over 80 percent people as numerous surveys have indicated in the recent part.