Will Musharraf Be Given a Fair Trial?
Posted by anas on Jul 25, 2009 in Pakistan | 25 commentsThe azaad adliya has summoned the former president/dictator/COAS Gen. (retd) Pervez Musharraf to defend his November 3 actions. This was to be expected, and in one of my blog posts in the aftermath of Musharraf’s resignation I called for his fair trial. I support the decision to bring him to courts. But would it be fair? There is a big question mark. Assuming for a minute that Musharraf appears in the court (which is highly unlikely), what will the CJP ask him? “How dare you sack me?” The big word here is ME! This is more like the affected party being the judge. In fact it is exactly the case. So my first reservation on this case is whether or not this will turn into a personal vendetta.
I follow JANG newspaper despite it being a highly biased one but it does cover a wide range of news in Pakistan. I read today that a team is getting ready to encircle Musharraf in Britain. First of all, this is more like the Imran-Altaf game we have seen earlier. Second, and more important, the team is headed by the one and only Lord Nazeer Ahmed. Who is he? Well, the title says he is a British MP who loves to poke his nose in Pakistan’s affairs. Seriously, what is his business in Pakistan? In my 10-month stay in London so far I have never ever seen a newspaper or channel covering the likes of Lord Nazeer. Apparently, he is more famous in Pakistan. Our media (a part of it) loves him, but then they should also love Richard Holbrooke in that way because Lord Nazeer is no different. Naam se koi Pakistani nai hojata!!
Abid Sher Ali of PML-N, famous for exposing the Dogar Daughter marks case, has expressed his views that Pervez Musharraf should be hanged. I agree on the condition that Nawaz Sharif must take the lead.
Another ardent writer , famous for spying activities, (yeah Ansar Abbasi) wrote that the top brass of army has somehow told him that they will remain neutral in this case. I really respect the passion of Abbasi when he writes against Musharraf, but then he should register for a blog and write his own views there. Anyway, I highly doubt this claim. The army will never back away from its former chief. This is more like Abbasi’s own wish. He also said in one of his columns that Kayani is a nice man and wants democracy to flourish. But we do have a bit of saying that about all army chiefs before they take over!
And lastly, this case could not have come at a better time for the government. An attempt will be made to hype up the proceedings and divert attention from more pertinent issues – as usual.
Anas. Their are two possibilities here one sack Musharraf,the other will be case prolongs, exile of 2-3 years, case reopens and then Baaizzat Barri!! all depends on the situation that unfolds with the anti-Pakistan conspiracies and the media playing its negative role!
Now that all wisdom says Musharraf must be tried and all because he sacked the judges and imposed Emergency, let’s rewind our current history a bit and call for some posthumous trials. The first on the list should be Field Marshal Ayub Khan for abrogating the Constitution, imposing martial law and throwing a civilian government out. Then should come General Yahya Khan who allowed half of Pakistan to be broken away and made into another country and all because of his sheer stupidities and his loose lifestyle. Is there another similar example in recent history? This should be followed by a posthumous trial of Gen. Ziaul Haq, again for abrogating the Constitution, imposing martial law, throwing the democratically elected government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto out and later hanging ZAB by coercing the judiciary. Why has the PPP not made this demand yet?
And when Musharraf is called before the Supreme Court, he should be heard by a new bench because if the present bench were to hear him, it would come across as a personal vendetta. After all, Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and his supporters have clamoured all the while for an ‘independent’ judiciary, haven’t they? So, let fairness rule.
The best analysis moment came when Sher Afghan was called up (by Hamid Mir, I think)..
and he asked
Sher Afghan Sahib, Musharraf sahib wapis aaingay? Court main hazri daingay? Ap kia kehtay hain..?
Sher Afghan *aik hee sans main** : Woh zaroor ayyy ga. Woh court main nahi jaayy ga.
The question is, did that dictator ever give a fair chance to others in his tenure? History says otherwise.
Musharraf,Zardari or anyone else are not gods yet people get touchy about them as someone abused the God. I do not know why.
he is a British MP who loves to poke his nose in Pakistan’s affairs.Seriously, what is his business in Pakistan?
When the British leader Altaf Hussain could poke his nose all the time in Pakistani politics then why not Nazeer Ahmad? Where is it written that he can’t talk about his homeland matters?
Waisay… (can’t help it–Im subscribed to the comments here
)..
I have to agree with Adnan here. Adding to it.. would you say the same thing about Yvonne Riddley? She’s a Brit too. And look what she’s done.
About Musharraf.. (whoever compared him and his dictatorship to Ayub Khan, Zia wegaira etc).. I have to say this. NO leader…with the exception of Musharraf, has committed the heinous crimes (it can be argued who was involved, and who not involved..but at least, Mush WAS)..that Musharaf has.
And I’m not talking about one..there are multiple.
Those who talk about the “progress” and the “moderation” should never forget that we have never had the likes of him — who didn’t bat an eyelash when 80 KIDS were killed in Bajaur… and women/children burnt alive in the Red Mosque. Starting of the drones too yeah..which have killed a load more civilians than Pakistanis. And finally gifting us with the current President..
As far as my knowledge goes (feel free to correct me if I’m wrong)… NO leader has stooped to THIS.
Starting of the drones too yeah..which have killed a load more civilians than Pakistanis.
Correction: ..killed a load more civilians than “terrorists.”
@Arsalan: I think 2-3 years exile scenario will prevail.
@Javed: Posthumous trials is more like a joke, those guys can’t even defend themselves
So we can throw whatever dirt we want on them and clean ourselves! I totally agree when you say this bench is unlikely to be fair.
@Adnan: “The question is, did that dictator ever give a fair chance to others in his tenure? ” –> No that’s not the question, what’s the point of a free judiciary then? And then if you look at history, neither the judge nor the dictator is clean. About Lord Nazeer Ahmed, did you say Pakistan is his homeland? Then why doesn’t he contest elections within the country – and again comparing him to Altaf Hussain merely shows the low rank of Nazeer Ahmed (seriously, who likes to be compared with Altaf?
). Besides, why do someone else’s wrongdoings give someone else an excuse to follow suit? In that case, we shouldn’t whine if the likes of Clinton and Bush and Holbrooke interfere in our matters either!
@Uni: How does Yvonne Ridley come in to picture? I don’t see her interfering in anyone’s matters. Coming back to Musharraf – that should be left for courts to decide, fair courts. I think the leaders who were responsible for 1971 war were responsible for more crimes, the number of deaths they caused was far more in number – and also Gen. Zia and Lt. Gen. Hameed Gul are responsible for bringing guns to the country. Ironically Hameed Gul has changed sides now but the fact remains that he planted the seed which has grown into a monster now. The current President is a gift of the people of Pakistan, not Musharraf – he wanted to remain himself – the people voted for change so that’s wrong to blame. But the other acts, ofcourse, need to be discussed in courts.
OMG! I wrote a huge comment on my own blog…. lol
No that’s not the question, what’s the point of a free judiciary then?
Anas, you missed the sarcasm. What I meant to say that when he himself could not provide fair justice to others then his supporters should not expect something romantic for him either. That’s my personal opinion. Speaking of free judiciary, I do not know. Time will tell about it but Musharraf should not be treated as a god. He has comitted crimes like others(Altaf,Zardari etc) therefore he should be punished. In past a democratic politician(though I do not like him much) became the victim of a dictator in July 77 now there is another July after 32 years. This time a dictator might face something similar(I hope so) by a “democratic” government.
About Lord Nazeer Ahmed, did you say Pakistan is his homeland?
*Nods*-He is a Mirpuri and many Pakistanis still believe that Azaad Kashmir is the part of Pakistan.
then why doesn’t he contest elections within the country
Well,Anas, if this is the criteria then you should not speak either about Pakistan while sitting in UK and should keep your lips sealed unless you come back and take part in some local elections.
seriously, who likes to be compared with Altaf?
that young guy is the leader of a party. Our Mayor Mustafa Kamal considers him his “Murshid”. No I am not kidding.
In that case, we shouldn’t whine if the likes of Clinton and Bush and Holbrooke interfere in our matters either!
LOL. Unfortunately none of them were born in Pakistan
also Gen. Zia and Lt. Gen. Hameed Gul are responsible for bringing guns to the country
Zia was pretty much similar to Musharraf.Both brought American war in Pakistan. Both used Islam for their own sake and gave their own definitions; If zia talked about Shariah then Musharraf talked about “Enlightened Pakistan”. And by the way both were Mohajirs too
. my cousins after argued with me that I should have supported mush because he was a mohajir but if that is the case then I should support Zia and Aslam Baig too because they are Mohajirs too!
I would just add that one should not single out Musharraf only in the presence of Zardari n Co, Nawaz and PML(Q)’s Remnants and MQM.
Ofcourse not, deserves the punishment but my point is that how can a person who himself has committed heinous crimes (read Nawaz, Zardari) call for prosecution? Oh and I often miss sarcasm when I do a bit programming
Yeah I actually don’t have a British Parliament not do I enjoy sitting in the House of Commons – so that’s not a comparison really. You can keep supporting Lord Nazeer Ahmed, but I don’t see how a British MP whose own government supports Iraq war and whose own Parliament ratified Afghan war call for Musharraf’s trial.
Yeah I know MK says that – but then there are Ameers and Ameer-ul-Momineens in other party so party members have a job to support their leaders.
I talked about Zia just to see who is a bigger gun. Being a Mohajir doesn’t mean supporting someone. Infact, belonging to the same community I don’t like the word Mohajir because the migration took place a long time ago – anyway that’s a different topic.
Your last point sums it up actually, you said one should not single out Mushrraf – but isn’t that what the court has done by giving a clean sheet to Sharif?
@Adnan: oh, and welcome to my blog
(read Nawaz, Zardari) call for prosecution?
So what? they are free to say whatever they want. In this way Altaf talks about “terrorism” by Talibans while he forgets that his own party is run by goons who are more brutal and violent than anyone else and even kill their own people like Azeem Tariq and Khalid Bin Waleed.The case is being taken care by the Chief Justice rather than by politicians so don’t worry about it.
I actually don’t have a British Parliament not do I enjoy sitting in the House of Commons – so that’s not a comparison really.
Well, sitting in a Parliament is a Job just like other desis do job there. If you have skills then you can also apply for the seat. Who stops you? The point is that he as a Pakistani is free to talk(or as you said “poke”). And,hehe I do not even know much about that guy..why did you conclude that I am supporting “Him”!. It’s not about some “Lord Nazeer”. I will say similar thing if someone stops you to talk about your homeland matters.
I don’t see how a British MP whose own government supports Iraq war
well, in this way Musharraf govt supported a war too. does it mean people of that country agree with the decision?
but then there are Ameers and Ameer-ul-Momineens in other party so party members have a job to support their leaders.
Yeah! so when if there could be a “Altaf Bai”.. sorry “Altaf Bhai” then why can’t be an “Amirul Momineen”? BTW, your Musharraf also considers himself a next “messiah” for Pakistanis. How that attitude is different than Amirul Momineen thing?
I talked about Zia just to see who is a bigger gun.
Nah. Its all about baisness. IMO Zia and Musharraf were same. Musharraf went further steps ahead and defamed both Islam and Pakistan and its Army and it is more lethal. No matter how many justifications given by Mush and his supporters but one can’t ignore that several hundreds of girls lost their lives in Jami Hafsa due to his decision. I used to go Islamabad an year back for official purpose and I have offered prayers at Lal Masjid. I have seen the condition of tree stems there due to bullets(the other things were fixed though) and I have met people in surroundings and they witnessed that how Musharraf’s guys threw papers of QUran and Hadiths in near by gutters and killed people there. Several Mush supporters say that Media is against Musharraf but are people in surroundings are against him too? or biased? if yes then he should not dream to rule over on Pakistan again becuse the awam do not want him. “Makfat-e-Amal” is something which every one has to face. Mush is not exceptional. He might not be punished here in this world but Allah knows everything and the dictator will be punished there for sure.
but isn’t that what the court has done by giving a clean sheet to Sharif?
I hope you won’t call me a Pro Sharif or Zardari like you called me a supporter of Lord Nazir but the fact is court is not being biased at the moment. As I said earlier that Musharraf did not treat fair with others, what I meant that it was Musharraf tenure when Supreme Court of that time exiled Sharif. Musharraf was there when Zardari was exiled or put in jail. So now it’s time for Musharraf. As they say in Urdu, “Bakray Ki maa Kab tak Khair manai gi” aur “Ab aya Ount Pahar k Neechay”. I think Musharraf’s time has arrived(though Allah knows the best). Every dog has its day. In past it was Musharraf’s day when he kicked Iftikhar out and now CJ’s day.
Musharraf had assumed that going inside Kaaba several times had given him a ticket for heaven hence he is free from all sins as if Jesus(as Bible says) took all his sins and set him free. Musharraf had forgot that even Abu Jahal would have gone inside Kaba several times but eventually he faced his fate. But Musharraf’s attitude did not surprise me. Every dictator thinks same. If you read about Ayub Khan,Iskandar Mirza ,Yahya Khan and Zia, you will find them suffering from same disease. Ayub Khan did not believe till last moments that things are not in his favor anymore unless he himself heard “Ayub Kutta Hai Hai” on streets of Karachi and Peshawar. Similarly Yahya kept dreaming unless he saw few Pakistanis tried to throw stones on his car then he believed that he is not acceptable anymore. God gave a fair chance to Musharraf to realize that he is not liked anymore by the majority of Pakistanis but he is unable to realize. God knows what is written for him. All I know that he tried to exile his enemies and had believed that they would never come and it seems he would not be able to come Pakistan again and would lead a self exiled life in UK or would be remembered as a “Desi General Pinochet” in the history of Pakistan.
p.s: writing a blog post/comment while programing is not a healthy sign(for your software since you can add an infinite loop by mistake)
A bit off topic but..I do not know why Musharraf is supported? I hope unlike “wise” desi girls, you will not say that you like him due to his dressing or designer suits
. Yeah I have come across some idiot women in office and friends’ circle that they love Musharraf because he wears good stuff. It reminds me the days when Imran Khan was young and our girls used to visit stadiums because of his dashing personalities rather than his skills. So if there are some genuine reasons other than his dressing style and Mohajir factor, then I would sure like to know.
I did not, at any point support Musharraf. The whole point was whether the trial will be fair. Immediately after his resignation, I wrote a post calling for his open trial
So that’s your first wrong conclusion.
Second, at some point you said “your Altaf..” but in reality if I mention some incidents, I have many more reasons to hate him than you, trust me!
Third, on all points, you have compared people. For example, you said on more than one occasions, if Altaf is doing something why not others? That, IMO, is something wrong too. One cannot compare someone with the worst and say look Im better than him, atleast!
Exactly, history repeats itself – first Nawaz tried to kick out Musharraf, lost the battle. Then Musharraf tried to kick out CJ, lost it – never learned the lesson. But if the story continues in circles, there is no end point.
Sitting in a Parliament is a Job – true. The definition of that job is to look after the people of your constituency – not in other countries.
The CJ being unbiased, time will tell. And btw, I don’t know why you talk about the M-factor (Mohajir factor), I really don’t give a crap about it.
But yeah, in all the cases you’ve exonerated the others by comparing them to Altaf, Musharraf, Zia and Co.
Yeah, there is a doubt/uncertainty regarding the unbiasedness of CJ in this trial…in particular..
You said..”time will tell” about the unbiasedness of CJ..
My question is, WHAT will make you certain about the unbiasedness (or biasedness) of CJ in this trial..(with time, as this trial proceeds and comes to a conclusion etc)?
@tahir: “I” don’t know about the CJ, that’s why I said time will tell.
And just to make it clear a little. I did a bit of research in the recent events and the current issue is actually NOT a trial of Musharraf, which is the way it is being hyped by the media and government. Also, only the government can file for a high treason against him, which will also eventually result in the annulment on NRO and self-destruction for the current President.
I mean, my point was, that if Musharraf comes up with no convincing answers to the charges against him and consequently gets punished..then, NO ONE, um, including you, should say that CJ has been biased IN THIS CASE..! This is what I wanted to remind you..
Ah, saw your response, after posting..my comment..LOL
lol..yes ofcourse – actually I have no say in the case, whether before or after
Um, I was just merely pointing out the attitude people SEEM to have, for example..kay bhui…If the conclusion of this case/trial/legal proceeding/whatever (thanks for the clarification!) goes against Musharraf..then people may (seem to) assume that it must be due to CJ’s biasedness..
It may be that Musharraf has nothing convincing to say..It may be due to the biasedness of CJ..It may be due to both factors..
It may be that CJ has the “ME” factor..but keeps it suppressed..and decides unbiasedly considering all the factors..
So, if one knows the “true stories”, the actual things, intentions of CJ etc..and CAN call it Azaad Adliya in italics..with a SURETY, then he definitely should..but if one isn’t SURE..then he/she shouldn’t..:)
Or LOL, one may ask CJ directly kay please, bata dain, aap biased hain?
Hope he reveals the truth..:D
[and CAN call it Azaad Adliya in italics]
I mean, in case the italicized “azaad adliya” you wrote..means “so-called Azaad Adliya”
your Altaf
No. I said “your Musharraf”.Pls read again. Are you saying you are not a Mush supporter?
if Altaf is doing something why not others?
No. I did not say one did wrong so other did too. IMO Altaf has right to talk about homeland matters just like any other Pakistanis. I do not agree his self-exile drama but then this does not take away his liberty to talk about Pakistan’s issues.
never learned the lesson.
*nods* and I add that it’s Zardari turn now. He is not learning from others’ mistake but then he might not need to realize and his sole purpose of current job to grab as much as he can for his future generation.
But if the story continues in circles, there is no end point.
Well this is the cycle prescribed by God. We can’t do anything else. People who do not have fear of God and get ready to ruin other people will always suffer like that.
not in other countries.
As a citizen he can talks about it. If he does not hold Pakistani passport then yeah he should not.
The CJ being unbiased, time will tell.
I won’t surprise if the CJ gets biased. If he’s a true professional then he will not. BTW,a decision against Musharraf does not mean the court will be against him.
The reason to mention Mohajir factor is that most of urdu speaking people try to favor Musharraf due to his background which is not good thing at all.
p.s: I used to be a Mush supporter till 2003/4. Infact unlike many of his ardent followers I got chance to meet the guy in a ceremony back in 1999 in Karachi.
update kartay ho ya —-?
its the only blog where i have to make use of threats for an update :/
yeh right.. great post, Thank You