Assault on judiciary

The judiciary is considered a vital pillar of national strength. Justice is the fulcrum that keeps people contended and ensures the respectful image of any society. Pakistan’s bleak period of military rule from General Ayub Khan to General Pervez Musharraf is a saga of utter degradation of the apex court, which ‘legitimised’ ouster of the elected leaders on contrived pleas of corruption and inefficiency, and Parliament compliantly endorsed the judgments. The outgoing dictator, who was given a proper send-off under the civil government, as if he were a rightful ruler, was an act which shows how puerile is our political mind. A viable military is indeed a very important element of national power, but it must not transgress its obligation to remain glued to its professional acumen, and be in a state of constant readiness to take on the ‘enemy’, should it embark upon any adventure against Pakistan. The blunder Musharraf committed resulted in the Kargil fiasco.


I once had an opportunity to visit Sri Lanka to attend a Conference on Brahimi Commission Report on UN Peace Keeping Operation (2002), which was attended by top brass retired military officers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, besides some prominent foreign scholars. Other Pakistanis attending the conference were Lt Gen (Retd) Talat Masood and Maj Gen (Retd) Jamshed Ayaz. Often after dinner we would have interactional sessions with several Indian army officers. Discussions mainly converged on the Kashmir issue and the so-called crossborder terrorism on the part of Pakistan. What became clear was that Musharraf was the most “hated” among the Indian army personnel. It was only after he reneged from the historical UN Resolution on Kashmir and offered a so-called “out-of-box” approach; he became relatively acceptable to the Indian Establishment. This clearly highlights the dangers of the military or in fact any other institution, taking unilateral steps on sensitive issues. Each institution must carry out its own job diligently without interfering in the working of others

Musharraf's confidants see no 'political' role for him in Pakistan in future

Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf might have vowed to return to the country's political stage riding on his newly floated political party, however, his former colleagues, whom Musharraf trusted to help him in his motive, are not very enthusiastic about the general's future.

Musharraf recently held meetings with several of his former confidants and leaders of like minded parties in Dubai.

Insiders in the Musharraf camp revealed that Musharraf met several PML-Q leaders, including Raza Hayat Hiraj, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Chaudhury Shahbaz, Ishaq Khakwani, Raees Munir Ahmed and others, but several leaders in PML-Q and other leaders have denied meeting Musharraf.

PML (Zia ) chief Ejazul Haq, and Humayun Akhtar Khan, president and secretary general of PML-Q (like-minded group) have also denied reports of making any contact with the retired general.

Sources close to Musharraf disclosed that the politicians who met Musharraf in Dubai told him that there was not a single political personality of international stature in the newly formed alliance of three Leagues, and Musharraf was the only person who could lead the proposed coalition or the greater political alliance likely to be formed this year.

Musharraf would make public his vision and manifesto and the date for his return only after final efforts about the formation of greater political alliance, as he was solely banking on the support of the stated coalition, The Nation reports.

Insiders quoted leaders who took part in the Dubai meeting, as saying that efforts to form a larger political alliance are likely to take a practical shape by the end of August following which Musharraf could announce a date of for his return from London, where he is currently living on an unannounced self-exile. (ANI)