More complications
The landmark, precedent-setting, Musharraf treason trial has taken another strange turn. No doubt the former president’s plan of suddenly expanding the list of ‘principal offenders’ is meant not just to pull more individuals into the case, but more institutions also. Previously, the list did not go beyond then Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and one or two other senior politicians. But now, the general remembers, the civilian and military leadership was consulted – which implies it, too, agreed with the emergency. Gen Kayani, who became army chief the same month yet did not revoke the decision, is visibly high on Musharraf’s list of people to blame. This trial has just become significantly more complicated, to say the last.
But then it’s not as if it has been the epitome of straight forward, transparent legal proceedings so far. The N-League made no secret about its obsession with making an example out of Musharraf not too long ago. And when the general miscalculated and returned in ’13, the ruling party went after him with full force. There was much public chest thumping, particularly by the league’s more vocal Khwajas. But then came the unforeseen dharna pressure, and Nawaz had to go to Gen Sharif for ‘facilitation’.
That, it seemed, was enough to take the wind out of the Musharraf trial. But, going by Gen Musharraf’s latest revelations, it seems he is not as happy with the army as he used to be. Perhaps he counted on the brass to keep its former chief from being dragged through courts and indicted. Now, some analysts are saying, by dragging senior officers, and politicians, into the case, he might be indirectly doing just that – getting elements in politics and the military to wind it up before it becomes any more chaotic. How some of mentioned retired generals respond will, of course, tell which direction it takes.
