Mixing Crime with Politics K. Ashraf The proceedings of Musharraf’s criminal cases have generated many twisted, flawed, biased and tainted debates. What they want to achieve through these debates is: either to save or to punish Musharraf. Those who want to save Musharraf link his case to army’s honor, current state of affairs, victimization of one man, fragility of present democratic system, etc. Those who want to punish him link his case to rule of law, stopping military from future takeovers, setting an example for future adventurers, creating equality of law and making everyone answerable to law. Apparently, they present their arguments often very sincerely, but their sympathy/animosity for Musharraf clearly reflects through their arguments. The passion or fervor of their argument cannot hide their hypocrisy. These nincompoops do not understand, there is a fine line between innocence and criminality. A person can remain innocent by staying on one side of the line or can become criminal by crossing over the line. Mr. Musharraf crossed that fine line many times after the events of October 12, 1999. He was in the air when his colleagues on the ground toppled the elected government of Pakistan. Musharraf could easily distance himself from event and go on retirement. Instead, he chose to become the main beneficiary of the coup. He became the CEO of Pakistan. It did not end there. He continued rule Pakistan under one title or the other for next 10 years. Now he is facing court of law for his extra-constitutional actions. These actions include constitutional violations as well as murder charges of Benazir Bhutto and Akbar Bugti. Legal anomalies and power imbalances of the political structure of Pakistan prohibited law to move against previous dictators, but now the law has finally moved against Mr. Musharraf. He is a retired general and a former army chief. Should he not be tried because he is a retired general and a former army chief? It does not make sense. He had all the opportunities to remain an innocent man before benefitting the October 12, 1999 coup, but he chose to enjoy the power. This is a pattern in Pakistani elite they hide behind politics after committing crimes. When they are caught or face law they claim the cases against them are politically motivated. They also claim instead of courts only the people have the authority to judge them. This whole argument is false. When a crime is committed the people cease the right to be the judge of the criminals even if they are politicians. The courts have to decide their fate. Only the courts have the right to try them and declare them innocent of guilty and release them or punish them. If Mr. Musharraf committed crimes against the state, the constitution and people of Pakistan, it has nothing to do with the military. These are his personal acts and only he is accountable for them. The army must distance itself from Musharraf and let the law take its course. If the court of law finds him guilty and punishes him the army must abandon him and let him face the music. Protecting any criminal for any reason under any pretext is dangerous. It is not in the overall interest of the country, the society and for the army as well to protect a person if he is declared guilty. Healthy societies and countries do not interfere with their legal systems. Pakistani individuals, government institutions, and the members of the ruling elite must learn to let the criminals go to jail for the crimes. This practice can only make Pakistan a real state.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Apr 2014 21:36:15 +0000
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