The Verdict
Musharraf’s trial: Vital for Pakistan's history and future

Musharraf’s trial: Vital for Pakistan's history and future

If the Musharraf trial goes through, regardless of the outcome, the day will be marked forever in Pakistan’s history!

Priyanka Rajani July 08, 2013

Not wanting to take an extreme stand on the issue of the trial of General (retd) Pervez Musharraf is understandable but ignoring his absence from court isn’t. Precedent is extremely important here. If the right example is set, our future generations will have something to hold on to, as a source of hope and inspiration.

The government’s decision to try the general and make this issue a top priority could be questioned on many grounds — how is the treason case or a murder trial more important than the ongoing terrorist attacks; why is energy not more important than seeing Musharraf behind bars and why does all of this have to happen during the government’s 90-day honeymoon period?

I, for one, would rather not look at that side of the picture. Answers can be found and debated upon if required but what stands out for me, as a citizen of this country, is the long-term vision of the move. If the treason trial goes through, no matter what the eventual outcome is, the day will be marked forever in Pakistan’s history. After the many military coups, a civilian government shall hold a military dictator accountable for his crimes. The shift of power, although not absolute, shall leave its imprint. Internationally, this will be a step towards a new direction for Pakistan. The country, forever at the verge of collapse, now holds its rulers accountable. The fascinating appeal of such a truth, in a third world country, forever struggling to survive, seems almost magical.

But we come back to reality and try to think of the cons of such a trial. There aren’t any.

The prime minister might not have had all the abovementioned factors in mind when he decided to announce that the government will be trying Musharraf for treason, but that doesn’t have to be the focus now. If the treason trial goes through, people will debate upon its causes and effects for decades to come.

For now, I’m just hoping that the witnesses get to court safely, the trial is conducted and the rule of law is upheld!

WRITTEN BY:
Priyanka Rajani The writer is a sub-editor at the Opinions and Editorial desk at The Express Tribune.

The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (9)

PR | 10 years ago | Reply At the risk of starting a comment-war, I just want to point out that what all of us are discussing here are the arguments that could/should be presented in court, with evidence. I don't know if Musharraf is in fact the one to be blamed for everything that people blame him for and I can't comment on the motivations for pushing this trial BUT as the article says, let's at least hope the trial happens. His position or power shouldn't let him get away with anything!

Raza | 10 years ago | Reply Priyanka, as someone who knew you once and is hence aware of your high powers of intellect, I'm disappointed in your naivete; if you think that this mockery of a "trial" of the man who rescued the country from bankruptcy in 1999 represents anything other than politically motivated revenge, then you quite clearly are unaware of reality. Its been 5 years since Mushurraf left; the record speaks for itself. The liberals, democrats and haters can now celebrate this "almost magical" moment while the decline continues.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Ahmed Saleem | 10 years ago | Reply As for legal clarity & some semblance of justice, do care to read the remarks of Justice Jawwad S Khawaja (Pakistan Today, August 20, 2013) "Justice Jawwad S Khawaja has said former president Pervez Musharraf’s treason case would decide the future of nation and court want to secure it by giving a verdict with reference to conviction of abrogator of constitution. He said this while presiding over a three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) during the hearing of the treason case against Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday. Khawaja remarked, “We want to secure the future of nation by determining the limitations and boundaries of Article 6 and giving verdict on awarding punishment to the abrogator of the constitution. This case will decide the future of the nation. The case has not assumed significance due to Musharraf but it is a matter of national importance. We want to dispose of this case by investing time on it. We want that no impulsive and power hungry person could dare to take such unconstitutional step in future.” " .... actually Mr. Musharraf, what goes around, comes around. So have the manly guts to at least face the music in the courts.

Ahmed Saleem | 10 years ago | Reply PR is right. Musharraf must face the trials. As for public support, Musharraf cannot even dare to come out to face the public in the open lest he gets lynched and hung from the nearest tree.

Abid Mohiuddin | 10 years ago | Reply @PR: Where do you live? Are you not aware that he came to the country himself to face the courts and cheap justices!! None of the cases have been proved in the court after > three months and in some cases the prosecution has not even completed what is called chaln in Pakistan. The last case : "the judgement has been reserved on bail?? Is it not mockery of justice ?? So please join my voice to campaign to release Musharraf immediately and let him participate at least in by elections and will see how much support he has ? That will be the test of democracy

PR | 10 years ago | Reply Dear all, If you think he didn't commit any crimes, why not just let him appear in court and present his case? Whether or not he did something bad is for the courts to decide. And no, I don't think one conviction (in this case just a trial) will negate everything good he did for his country. This is just a time for the population to realize what democracy truly means: accountability to the public one is serving. He might not have wronged any of us but if a case has been registered there must be some evidence piled up against him. All I'm asking is, why can't he come and defend himself if he was right all along? Isn't this better than any other means of so called revenge anybody could have come up with?

Abid Mohiuddin | 10 years ago | Reply @Umar: Thanks for your comments .Very soon the majority will move to support Musharraf . I disagree that he did any crimes He may have done mistakes but you only do mistakes when you have courage to take action against illegal and state terrorists like Mr.Ghazi or Bugti

Umar | 10 years ago | Reply Going back a decade is never the best choice, as the Bengalis punish Jamat e Islami's leader for illicit crimes in 1971 Bangladesh' markets are today closed for the third day. It is a fact that the half of our population is not even aware of the definition of democracy and has a soft corner for Musharaf. He is being tried for the crimes he did but why is he not rewarded for all the good things? Why is he not rewarded for keeping the dollar at 60 for a decade? Why is he not rewarded for actually instilling democracy at a lower level through Baldiati Nizam that led to the development of Karachi? I am not pro Musharaf but today's government and institutions will have to set up their priorities: Terrorism, Energy, Economy or Musharaf?

ABID MOHIUDDIN | 10 years ago | Reply Rule of Law ? Where was it when the sitting Primeminister hijacked the palne and riske the life of 350 passengers including 50 children .This was proved in the court of law and punished by death penalty followed by life imprisonment and then escape to Jeddah with blessings from |Musharraf. Had Musharraf not escused him this would have set an example and no body presidednt or \prime minister ever dare to endanger the life of his citizen this way . This guy Mr nawaz Sharif is back in power on Punjabi Mandate and is trying to take revenge from Musharraf but he was elected to solve the common people issues which he is failing and in muy opinion should be tried again for Hijacking once Mr Chodhry is retired Musharraf is the savior of the country and should be released immediately

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ

Musharraf’s trial: Vital for Pakistan's history and future

More by this writer

FOLLOW US