In Turkey, earlier this month, the two surviving former military dictators and conspirators of the 1980 military coup, Kenan Evren and Tahsin Sahinkaya were charged with crimes against the state in a move widely touted as an important step as the country faces up to its dark past of military rule. Five army generals took power in 1980 but Evren and Sahinkaya are the only ones who are alive today.
Like Pakistan, in Turkey, military has been potential risk for civilian governments, military has carried out three coups in 1960, 1971 and 1980 and a soft coup in 1997. But good thing is that the trials of generals have been started over there. Pakistan was lagging behind Turkey in this regard till January 23, 2012.
The 23 January will be remembered as a landmark milestone in the history of Pakistan, when PPP’s senior leader, Senator Raza Rabbani’s resolution was passed by Senate. The Senate unanimously adopted Raza Rabbani resolution demanding the arrest of former military dictator, General (retd) Pervez Musharraf upon his arrival in Pakistan and institution of treason charges against him under Article 6 of the constitution.
Hats off to the veteran politician, Raza Rabbani, who drafted and presented this resolution in the upper house. The Senate has shown its power and Shaheed BB was right when she said “democracy is the best revenge”.
DR SAIF UR REHMAN
Islamabad
