Flogging a dead horse

Make this the last act rather than the prologue

Two likely developments are going to impact the way things may shape in the country in the future: the treatment meted out to Gen Musharraf and whether and when the names of the media persons who have been the recipients of dole-outs from the state exchequer are made public.

There has been much speculation as to the timing of Gen Musharraf’s return to the country. One obvious factor that may have influenced this decision to come back is the absence of a political government in the country and that the interim government may not be too keen to pursue him. The other factor that may have weighed heavily in the decision to come back relates to him being the former COAS and the ‘support’ that it may understandably elicit from the military bureaucracy. Some say that he also suffered from the delusion of widespread public support and that there would be hordes of people lined up to greet him.

Two things have happened since he came back. The bubble of his so-called popularity has burst and the legal process has moved at a quick pace tightening the noose around his neck. On Thursday, his bail in the judges’ case was not renewed and the Islamabad High Court passed the orders for his arrest. Instead of surrendering after the hearing, the General injudiciously opted to flee the scene and take refuge in his Chak Shahzad Farm House with an impenetrable security cordon around it. As expected, he has since been arrested and produced before a judicial magistrate who granted a transit bail for two days. There are also reports that his residence will be declared a sub-jail. So technically, his period of incarceration has commenced. The question that arises relates to the conduct of the political government that did nothing significant over five long years to bring the General to justice. It has now fallen to the impoverished and age-ravaged lot of the interim government, with the prospect of national elections already taking a heavy toll, to administer some tough decisions. It remains to be seen whether the subsequent proceedings will follow the normal course as they would in other such cases.

More than anything else, this would depend on the role that the army would play in the long run. There have been incessant reports of institutional unease regarding his coming back and efforts are also reported to have been made to dissuade him from doing so. Some friendly countries’ role also cannot be overlooked in the matter as is now being openly certified by divergent quarters including Gen Musharraf’s aides who have clearly hinted at a ‘deal’ that facilitated his return to the country and which may also determine the shape of things in the future. Silence on the part of the top leaderships of the political parties, most notably the PPP and the PML-N, is also strengthening this perception.

While the popular demand emanating from the intelligentsia, the judiciary and those others who were directly impacted by his actions will favour a treatment that would be fully commensurate with his crimes, transgressions and misdemeanours, saner voices may be more inclined to allowing the ghost to be buried without creating any further ripples in an already divided society. Both opinions have their rationale: while the former may win by sheer numbers, the latter may stand out because of its sagacity and farsightedness. Reservations about some people sitting on judgement on the accused and others who may have collaborated with him may also have its relevance that may be difficult to hide in a battle that can be both bitter and prolonged. Overall, the General presents a test-case for all: whether to follow a course that may be emotionally more satisfying and may also settle some old scores or to choose a path that would be more in consonance with upholding Pakistan’s long-term stakes and may also be more enduring and meaningful. Already there are numerous voices demanding to make this the last act rather than the prologue. The converse may be like needlessly flogging a dead horse.

The other case that may impact the national scene is a major way is the likely revelation of names by the judiciary of media tycoons and practitioners who have been receiving state funds in the name of rendering national service. These dole-outs are covered under numerous heads and a detailed list has understandably been handed over to the bench that is hearing the petition. The list contains over two-hundred beneficiaries of the state largesse and may include many a sacred surprise. The ministry of information has divided the names into two broad categories and has recommended that the judiciary may go ahead with revealing the names listed under one head, but keep secret over one-hundred names which are listed under the second head who reportedly received these dole-outs from the ‘secret fund’. Simultaneously, there is mounting pressure on the judiciary from numerous partisan quarters that no names should be revealed at all as all recipients of these funds were performing a ‘national duty’.

Questions relating to the nature of tasks assigned to these journalists would naturally be asked. It would be grotesque to go into further details as one clearly understands the base dimensions of all these undertakings and the manner in which state funds were distributed to win political and allied support. Every government since the inception of the country has indulged in this nefarious exercise and practically everyone who is anyone in the journalism business has been the beneficiary of this largesse at some stage or the other.

But, now that the skeletons are being dragged out of the closets where they have been rotting for decades, it is essential that the names of these inveterate pontiffs who never tire of lecturing the world on moral and professional values should be brought out in the open. Already there is wild speculation as to the identity of these self-anointed ‘saints’ who have muddied many a decent character. Independent journalism being new to Pakistan, things may have been done too brashly and unprofessionally and this may be an opportunity to cleanse the stables of the muck that has accumulated over years. For the moment, the judiciary is faced with a mammoth challenge and it may not have much time to waste if it wants its credibility to remain intact which has taken a few hard hits of late.

The writer is a political analyst. He can be reached at [email protected]