Commando jittery at the moment of reckoning
It was amusing to watch former strongman Musharraf inventing excuses for not appearing before the court where he was to be indicted for treason. In less than a week, the confident tone, chest thumping and the challenges to opponents by a man who said he feared none, were replaced by an all-too-visible loss of nerve and panic was writ large on his countenance. Musharraf suddenly started complaining that the terrorist groups and the Baloch extremists were after his blood. The former military ruler was provided unprecedented security which included ‘box security’ and combing and scanning of the entire route before his departure from his farmhouse in Chak Shahzad to the court. Hundreds of policemen, with a contingent of commandos and the Rangers personnel were there to protect him; the DIG Security was to monitor all security measures, including a motorcade of personnel, along with jammers, a fire engine and an ambulance. The Police and Rangers personnel were also deployed around the special court while containers were placed around it. Nothing could reduce Muharraf’s sense of insecurity.
Benazir Bhutto had returned to Pakistan despite being aware of the grave risks to her life. The explosions that killed 136 people who had formed a human chain around her truck as she came out of Karachi airport failed to unnerve her. Three months later an undeterred Bhutto proceeded to address the fateful rally in Rawalpindi despite refusal by Mushrraf to provide her the much-needed security that included jammers. On Thursday Musharraf again failed to appear before the court where a high drama was to be enacted by the defence counsel. One of Musharraf’s lawyers left the court maintaining he could no more represent Muharraf as he was himself facing threats from unknown quarters. The great legal magician, apparently unused to appearing before an independent court, failed to unleash his usual legal tricks. Finally Musharraf was reported to have suddenly developed a heart problem while en route to the court and taken to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology. The court has ordered Musharraf to appear on Monday.
There are stories about the arrival of the Saudi foreign minister, and also that Musharraf might be taken abroad for treatment. This seems to be difficult in the presence of an independent and watchful judiciary.
