Is Musharraf’s exit result of a deal?

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N in its 2013 election manifesto had taken the credit of foiling the “conspiracy” to grant General Musharraf indemnity for Nov 3, 2007 emergency by the then PPP government but in 2016 it is found violating its own pledge while giving safe exit to the usurper of the Constitution.

The Thursday’s government decision of letting General Musharraf go abroad for apparent health reasons is negation of what the N-league had boasted in its manifesto: “PML-N leadership and workers courageously fought martial law regime from 1999 to 2008 with thousands of workers jailed. The principled democratic struggle culminated in ouster of Gen. Musharraf from power and foiled conspiracy to grant him indemnity for 3 November, 2007 emergency.”

Sneakily, the PML-N government insists that Musharraf was allowed to go abroad because of his reasons and that he would return within a few weeks, but the former dictator upon reaching Dubai has reportedly cancelled his health-related appointments and started his political activities.

The sudden softening of heart of the PML-N towards Musharraf and his immediate departure  within a few weeks of the apex court’s clear direction to the Special Court (hearing his sedition case) to conclude the case against the dictator as soon as possible, is seen by many as a result of some deal.

PML-N sources strongly deny this but a top ruler under Musharraf’s dictatorial rule has recently shared with a source that nothing will come out of what the government was posing recently in relation to the Musharraf trial.

“Don’t worry, it has been taken care of,” the source quoted once Musharraf’s blue-eyed. The source, however, said that there was no mention of the word “deal” in the statement.

Doubts about some deal or understanding are furthered by the recent repeated visits of General Musharraf to different Karachi hospitals giving the impression that he had serious health problems whereas he becomes active as soon as he reaches Dubai. 

While removing his name from the ECL or even before the apex court, the government also did not show any interest to counter-check from a board of independent doctors Musharraf’s claims about his serious health issues.

It was also surprising even for the apex court that the attorney general was not keen to press the apex court for preventing Musharraf from going abroad by not removing his name from the ECL.

The episode of Musharraf’s exit during Nawaz Sharif’s government is in sharp contradiction to what the PML-N top leadership has been stating in the past years or had pledged in its manifesto.

Several times Nawaz Sharif had committed to try Musharraf for abrogating the constitution for the cause of democracy and rule of law. In its manifesto, the PML-N also said, “The challenge ahead of us is not only to re-establish the supremacy of law and ensure respect for democratic institutions, but to create a society that is based on social justice and ensures the well-being of all Pakistanis without any discrimination.” 

The manifesto underlined the importance of rule of law by stating: “Democratic governance requires supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law in order to reduce corruption, tax evasion, wasteful expenditure, misuse of power, and meets the aspirations of the people.”

The manifesto also set out what it claimed “a realistic and sound framework for pulling back the nation from the edge of abyss”. 

“This is to be achieved by means of socio-economic development, generating opportunities and jobs, based on equity, fairness and justice, on the foundation of democratic principles and above all, of the rule of law.”

By allowing Musharraf to leave Pakistan basically to escape the sedition trial, many believe, the PML-N government has seriously dented the cause for rule of law that it has been championing since the restoration of the judiciary.