Perhaps, never before in the last 72 years of our existence have we made our neighbor as much happy as we have done in the last eight weeks. We gave Diwali and post-Diwali presents to the Indians, who were first jubilant on the manner in which our current army chief's extension in service was publically discussed with ill-intent and then as an icing on the cake, we condemned to death, an ailing former Army Chief, for treason. Wow! What a feat?
We,as a nation had not even emerged out of the shame caused with the questioning of the Executive's authority to extend the service contract of our existing army chief; when the nation yet again was blasted with the explosive news of President Musharraf being held guilty for treason, and hence sentenced to death as a traitor - death for Treason, What?Treason - by an ex-Army Chief of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan! Justice rushed here is a perfect case of injustice prevailed.
Death sentence, in absentia, without being heard in the court. The pronouncement that six opportunities were given doesn't entitle to dispense justice or injustice in hurry. Eminent jurists in history, fromLincoln to our Father of the Nation, Mr. Jinnah, believed in twisting facts of the case to "Suit justice", not otherwise. If there was rush to wind up this case, why there are those thousands of cases lying undecided for long years? Something just doesn't feel good here!
Traitor is a person who is dis-loyal to the country or a cause. A perfidious is an individual with deceitfulness as an attending trait. A person who advocates and promotes anarchy; is violent by nature. He is a person who fails to act in the best interest of its constituents, i.e., the nation. In the US Code, whoever owing allegiance to the US, levies war against them or adhere to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within US or elsewhere, is guilty of treason.
Where does anybody find in President Pervez Musharraf, any act that goes against the larger interest of the country? In his persona, as General and President there are no traces of the basic ingredients that go to define, both, Treason and being a Traitor - No back-stabbing, betrayal, disloyalty, double-crossing, faithlessness, sell-out, treachery or sleeping with the enemy. He had no friendship with the steel magnets from across the border, which some civilian leaders (?), safer to say "mis-guided civilians" have close business contacts;so much so that during official visits to New Delhi, they would have time to meet in person their counterparts.
To the contrary, he assumed the mantle/ or more accurately was catapulted into being chief executive, by the sheer sinisterdesigns of the then civilian leadership, who had ordered (reportedly) his plane to be taken to the neighboring country. His sub-ordinates installed him, the same night. He wasn't crowned as part of hereditaryprocessas seen in civilian leadership.
General Musharraf had made us proud during the Kargil war. He had got the enemy by their jugular vein, when the civilian government stated to fret and developed cold feet, leading to unwarranted withdrawal of our brave and courageous jawans.
Nowhere is a victorious General accorded with charge of treason. He spent forty years or more as part of the army. In his words, the uniform was his skin. He is a proud Pakistani. To call him traitor, is to calling all those he led, as traitors! What travesty of justice is this? Those who guard our frontiers, so that we may be safe, are considered, enemies of the state. The US' constitution, article III; section-3 defines what an act of treason is...."Treason is specifically limited to levying war against the US or adhering to their enemies, giving aid and comfort". In this context, doesn't the nation know, who benefits whom, for business interests - the military leadership or the civilian leadership? We all have the answers.
He represented Pakistan with grace and had earned for its citizen's global respect. Pakistan, economically then was growing with a close to 8 percent GDP growth. Unintimidated, he dauntingly fought the war on terror. His successors like General Raheel Sharif and General Qamar Javed Bajwa completed what he had begun. President Musharraf's grasp on current national and international affairsgave him a stature in the comity of nations and world leadership. He enjoyed personal rapport with Vladimir Putin, Khalifa Zayed, King Abdullah and host of other leaders. Unlike the civilian leaders, who struggle for words, President Musharraf had great skills in articulating Pakistan's position on various national and global issues. He mesmerized the Indian press corps at Agra and again had the Advani led (Vajpayee was the stooge) BJP (RSS) government on its heels. They rushed to scuttle the success Pakistan had achieved at President Musharraf's hands.
Being a trained Commando, he was daring. At the SAARC Summit in Kathmandu, he undid Vajpayee to bits, with his impromptu warm handshake, which shook the wits out of the Indian entourage that was seated before the dais. He was a gusty leader.No attempts on his life made him waver from hisresolve of "Pehle Pakistan". Divine intervention always kept him in safety ... and that cannot be different today!
On the saddest day, of cold December, when the miscarriage of justice was announced, there were many on TV screens gloating over in delight. These very faces only a few weeks back too, were delighted at the washing in public, of the extension of service of the COAS. Most unkind expressions, in a muted manner where being cast upon our beloved Armed Forces. The word "Restraint" of late has become a catchword and a cliché in our country. The statement of DG ISPR, which said, "An-Ex Army Chief, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee and President of Pakistan, who has served the country for over forty years, fought wars for the defense of the country can surely never be a traitor", is "full of restraint", in my view. Why are we demoralizing our forces? Why?
Personally, as a Pakistani and being an ardent admirer of Z.A. Bhutto, since my school days, I was disappointed that, in spite of BB's good upbringing, my hero's granddaughter, who is otherwise such a good image of her illustrious mother, tweeted most unkindly, "Jo Murdah hai, Woh Zinda hai; Jo Zinda hai, Woh Murda Hai". Come on! Young Lady, your Grandfather was a great leader and your mother, an astute politician; please hold to their values and tradition.
Why are we self-destructing ourselves? Is there an inherent vice in us, with great propensity to self-harming? The divide is not narrowing. The widening of the gulf between all segments of society must be pondered with seriousness, at all levels, and at every strategic institution of the state. (For this piece I have used the most likeable US tradition, where President, even after leaving office, are addressed as "President" and not "Ex or former".
The wages of service to the Nation is death. (with apology to the bard W. Shakespeare for twisting his coinage).
With Salute to President Musharraf and Salute to our beloved Armed Forces.
(The views expressed in this article are not necessarily those of the newspaper)(The writer is a freelance contributor)
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