Musharraf’s predicament

And the honourable option

Musharraf in his last interview claimed that “I would say the whole army is upset… I have no doubt with the feedback that I received that the whole army is… totally with me on this issue and let us see what Gen Raheel Sharif does in this case”. Musharraf made these statements in an interview with a foreign journalist. This interview raises several questions which General (retd) Musharraf needs to answer, like what is the purpose of making these claims, what is the army’s “support” for, what would Musharraf like Gen Raheel Sharif to do, break his oath and threaten the prime minister or the tribunal?

Since his return in March 2013 Musharraf has had been confined to his house and now the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology. In other words he has been a virtual prisoner. Despite the exhibition of bravado his confinement is telling on his nerves. The aforementioned interview appears to reflect his desperation.

Defence analyst Ikram Sehgal in his weekly article on 1 January, 2014, states:

“Musharraf persists in being seriously delusional. His statement that the whole army stands behind him is wrong and mischievous, and is meant for his own survival. Musharraf should have the strength of character and propriety not to get the army that suffered because of his personal ambitions embroiled again in controversy to save his own neck. Shame on him for trying to get the army into the line of fire.

“He owes that much to the uniform he once wore. While the army’s rank and file will not like to see their former chief humiliated and being dragged through the courts, they certainly do not condone treason. Having violated the constitution in what they thought was the greater interest of the nation, Musharraf and his aides should now have the courage to stand by their acts of Oct 1999 and Nov 2007, and in-between. If what he did was not for his personal sake why should soldier Musharraf fear the consequences?”

In another interview reported in The Times of India, Musharraf expressed regrets that Kayani did not support him in the face of treason charges. Musharraf now also admits that Kayani was the only senior army commander who did not level allegations against the former Supreme Court Chief Justice when he deposed him in 2007. In March 2007 Kayani being the Director General ISI knew the facts. Being an honourable man he has been loyal to his oath. Musharraf’s expectation from Kayani to act otherwise is just another misjudgement.

It is unfortunate that Musharraf is still paying heed to his cronies who told him that he would be greeted with open arms by millions of Karachiwallas. The lacklustre reception at Karachi airport in March should have served as an eye-opener. Musharraf still does not appear to be able to face the sad reality of his situation. We are neither in 1999 nor 2007, the judiciary is independent, the press and the electronic media are relatively free, and there is a democratically elected government that is aligned with the armed forces.

Musharraf’s legal team now includes the jadoogar of Jeddah but his magic is no more. The legal trickery was of no avail. Dismissing the drama of security created by the ‘discovery’ of some unarmed IED in Chak Shehzad, the tribunal mandated Musharraf to appear in person. All these were just delaying tactics and were of no avail. The drama by the ‘brave commando’ of ‘suffering’ heart ailment and running to the protection of the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi instead of facing the tribunal like a man did no protect him from the eventual indictment.

The antics by Musharraf’s maverick legal team to provoke the judges of the tribunal to lose their temper was also seen through and in spite of grave misbehaviour and provocations by Musharraf’s lawyers the judges remained calm and even refrained from invoking contempt of court. Finally, on 31 March, Musharraf had to willy-nilly appear in court to hear the charges read out to him. In his statement in the tribunal his basic contention is that having fought in two wars and being the COAS he cannot be guilty of treason. It is significant to note he did not deny or offer any defence individually against the five actual charges read out by Justice Tahira Safdar.

The Supreme Court in its July 31, 2009, judgment declared that declaring emergency on November 3, 2007, and his subsequent orders (under the emergency) unconstitutional, ultra-vires of the Constitution consequently being illegal and of no legal value as a result. One wonders as to what defence can be put up.

Musharraf has now requested Nawaz Sharif’s government to remove his name from the Exit Control List to enable him to go to Dubai to see his ailing mother and seek ‘treatment’ in USA. One wonders if he is telling the truth this time. On the other hand, has he finally thrown in the towel and just intends to get out?

An army officer is expected to be a gentleman, a man of honour. The honourable thing to do is to stand upright and take full responsibility for one’s actions rather than putting blame on one’s colleagues. In fact an honourable person would actually absolve them from any blame. Since the acts were reprehensible a gentleman and a man of honour would admit his mistake, apologise and seek forgiveness — this is the honourable option for Musharraf.

All members of the armed forces at the time of commissioning take the oath given in Article 44 of the Constitution which states: “I ———– , do solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan and uphold the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.” Musharraf has repeatedly broken this oath. He should seek forgiveness and pay the penalty.