Pervez Musharraf has decided to defer his plans of coming to Pakistan on the advice of his friends and supporters. This is in reaction to the current hostile political situation in Pakistan as it would be dangerous to return at this time.
The heavyweight political parties are out to get him and recently a resolution was tabled in the Senate by Raza Rabbani calling for Musharraf’s arrest. It is surprising that the current government is so intent on making the situation extremely difficult for Musharraf’s return while they should be focusing on more important issues.
The country is plagued by numerous problems, most recently the tragic deaths of more than 100 patients in Punjab due to contaminated medicine. But instead of focusing on these problems the government and media alike are embroiled only in high profile issues like Memogate, Musharraf’s return etc.
The Senate resolution itself is hypocritical in many ways. The key initiator of this resolution, the PPP, had made a deal with president Musharraf, accepting him as president while a PPP leader was prime minister.
The PML(N) ministers had taken oath from Musharraf after the 2008 elections. This resolution also raises a series of questions. Will there also be action against all the individuals who violated the constitution in the past also? People can then ask for a similar action against even the Supreme Court judges who approved military takeovers in the past or posthumous trials of Gen Ayub, Gen Zia-ul-Haq, Gen Yahya etc.
It should be noted that Musharraf has only delayed and not cancelled his return. Instead of trying to hinder the return of a former leader who is still better for Pakistan than the present rulers, the government must concentrate on providing good governance.
MASOOMA IMRAN
Karachi