An indictment

All had been quiet on the Pervez Musharraf legal front for so long that many assumed deals were afoot to spirit the former dictator out of the country. Musharraf had been merrily appearing for television interviews and living unhindered in Karachi, only adding to the sense that he would escape justice. Now, an anti-terrorism court in Quetta has served a reminder that Musharraf still has a lot to account for. In being indicted, along with former interior minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and former home minister Shoaib Ahmed Nausherwani, for the killing of Akbar Bugti in 2006 Musharraf has one more case to battle, along with his treason case in front of a special court. As has become a habit, Musharraf excused himself from making a personal appearance in front of the court, citing his ill health. But the ATC now wants Musharraf to be examined by a medical board so it can ascertain he is not making excuses to avoid facing justice. The Bugti killing is one of the biggest blights on Musharraf’s tainted record. Bugti was considered one of the more moderate nationalists. Musharraf to this day maintains Bugti was a terrorist and his killing was justified but the matter has never before been adjudicated in a court.
Musharraf had been charged with Bugti’s murder in a different court but that case had been dropped, along with other cases that named him as an accused in the murders of Benazir Bhutto, and children in the Lal Masjid raid. There is not much reason to believe the outcome will be any different this time. So far Musharraf has only been indicted. Even if he remains in the country and is declared fit to stand trial that does not mean the court will find him guilty. Then, even if there is a guilty verdict there is every possibility the ruling will be overturned by higher courts on appeal. The executive gets a lot of leeway in matters of national security so Musharraf’s conviction is by no means guaranteed. The stronger case still remains his subversion of the constitution and proclamation of emergency. Musharraf, and those who have no desire to see a former military man face civilian justice, will continue to press for his name to be lifted from the Exit Control List. But if we want to be a country where justice is applied equally to all then these cases need to reach their logical end without any outside intervention.