The country is shocked over the Special Court verdict in the high treason case against General (R) Pervez Musharraf. Irrespective of the merits and demerits of the verdict, what makes the court’s decision a matter of deep worry is the dangerous precedent it has set for the future of the state. Justice must always be dispensed in a manner that is just in its essence and as per laid down law. Unfortunately, the verdict in the case of Gen. (R) Pervez Musharraf appears to be an example of judicial arrogance. This is the kind of attitude that currently seems to be reigning supreme. However, it is doing nothing but demoralising the nation and its armed forces – the very people who are always ready to sacrifice their lives to defend the country.If anything, Pervez Musharraf was never a ‘ghaddar’ – a traitor. As a soldier, he performed his duties with full responsibility. He led the country with high distinction. When judged on the basis of his nine-year tenure, he emerged as a leader with a clear future vision for the country. In the late 90s, when the country was on the brink of becoming a ‘failed state’ owing to rampant corruption, political instability, economic bankruptcy and looming international isolation, General Musharraf ended up leading the “most difficult countries to govern,” in the words of Time Magazine. During his 9-year tenure, he retrieved Pakistan’s lost image and earned for it a level of respect. He governed by devolving power to the grass-roots when he revived the local government infrastructure and made a sincere attempt to lead the nation towards development and modernisation. He subsequently became a victim of his own over-ambitious approach when, in his desire to continue being President of Pakistan, to get some more years for completing his agenda of national development, he made a deal with the late Benazir Bhutto and issued the National Reconciliation Order (NRO) – an act that he subsequently rued.

Pervez Musharraf has now been sentenced to death on charges of committing high treason when he promulgated an Emergency on November 3, 2007. The verdict is obviously a cause of pain and anguish to most people in the country – and to the armed forces as it has adversely affected their morale. Having led Pakistan in a very distinguished manner, Musharraf now seems to be the target of a blatant attempt at image vilification. The Pakistan armed forces, one of the finest in the world, are highly perturbed on seeing the former army chief being declared a ‘traitor’ and being fit to be sent to the gallows on account of high treason – even after his death.

Paragraph 66 of the verdict of the Special Court, as laid down by a three-member bench led by the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court, the Honourable Justice Waqar Seth, has spelled out the punishment of having his body hanged for three days in Islamabad’s D Chowk. Serious questions have been asked as to the sheer brutality of the punishment, which is inhuman to the core and defies the values upheld by any civilized society. More is the pity, that such inhuman treatment is proposed to be given to someone who was always proud to be a Pakistani and a “soldier’s soldier”. It is also not comprehensible as to why has the Opposition maintained a studied silence over the whole affair? After all, even if they are not in power, they cannot divest themselves of their status as citizens of Pakistan. The armed forces belong as much to them as to anyone else. They Opposition must be equally concerned about looking for the missing logic in the judicial process. They must join the nation in ensuring that the armed forces are not defeated by their own people.

Syed Jawaid Iqbal
President & Editor in Chief