The New Nation - Internet Edition

Dr. M. S. Haq

The recent agreement - between and among representatives of ruling political parties in Pakistan - on matters relating to impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf represents, among other things, an apparent shift in the priority and focus of concerned political parties in pertinent areas. As a result, the priority associated with the reinstatement of deposed judges has come down to priority number two from priority number one and the matter concerning impeachment of president has - as at today, 8th day of August 2008 - occupied the position of priority number one.

The people of Pakistan and the world at large (I mean, those concerned) are watching the development in Pakistan with for example an extra careful eye. Because it is taking place at the time: when hardships of Pakistanis and cases of say, in-country terrorism have increased manifold; when the country's vulnerability to nuclear insecurity is on the rise; when the soldiers are busy in fighting terrorism with a mixed success; when the poor performance of coalition government with regard to tackling local, national, international and other problems is being camouflaged - in varying degrees, though - by political rhetoric, blame games, long term promises, media (print, electronic, others) manipulations and by over protective, as well as emotional (used in a negative sense) stances in relevant areas; when major political parties and certain TV channels are busy in mobilizing public opinion in favor of President Musharraf's impeachment by, inter alia and as appropriate, hiding the truth, using arbitrarily and in an unauthorized manner their relevant versions and opinions as the versions and opinions of entire Pakistanis - interesting though, the total number of Pakistanis who actually cast their vote in the recent national assembly poll does not amount to even 46 percent of total registered voters. It implies inter alia an aggregate of the treasury bench, the opposition bench and the independent members at the federal parliament do not enjoy the mandate of majority of Pakistani voters - closely relating to it, is the fact PML-Q, the leader of opposition in the parliament, represents the second largest amount of popular vote in the parliament; and when political instabilities are taking toll on the country's comparative, competitive and other advantages in relevant areas - chances are there, the situation might deteriorate further at least through a period of time in the future if the impeachment materializes eventually or fails eventually or a mixture of both; to mention a few.

The development mentioned calls for inter alia the application of matured, free, fair, unbiased, calculative, cool-minded, informed and lawful approaches - by all Pakistanis, to whom it might concern, though - towards dealing with challenges and opportunities that might arise out of and in the course of impeachment.

In light of above, it has now become more incumbent than in the past upon the country's politicians, the coalition government, the opposition political parties, civil society, the media and others to assist people of Pakistan in taking the right decision at the right time and cost on matters for example: whether or not to impeach the president. It will not be out of place to mention here: the politicians and the media (print, electronic, other) should not mislead the people when it comes to matters such as and as appropriate:

1. Why did PM Nawaz Sharif and his government act in an unlawful and cowardly manner - when it comes to their attempt towards sending General Pervez Musharraf to exile when the general was returning to Pakistan via air? Why did PM Nawaz & Co not elect to follow the country's constitution and the rule of law to deal with the general on the ground - I mean on the soil of Pakistan? Why did Nawaz & Co force the brave, courageous and law-abiding armed forces of Pakistan to act on that fateful day? Thanks to Pakistan Army's timely and decisive role in dealing successfully with the situation in the greater interest of the country's rule of law and constitution. Congratulations!

2. Where were the moral, ethical, democratic, legal and constitutional stances of PML-N and other concerned political parties hiding when it comes to creating an enabling environment for General Musharraf's entry into the government against the backdrop of an illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic act committed by those parties? In light of above, concerned people of Pakistan should be assisted in the determination of matters such as: Who was the root cause of the subsequent military rule in Pakistan? Who should be charged in the first place by people of Pakistan?

3. The contributions made by President General Pervez Musharraf and his team during the crucial period of 9/11 deserve inter alia commendations from people of Pakistan and others. The president with the support of his team was able to transform Pakistan into an ally of the US at the time when Pakistan and perhaps not Afghanistan would have been the first target of US-led war on terror. It is expected people of Pakistan will not be misled by the propaganda of concerned political parties and certain sections of the media in pertinent areas.

4. The success stories regarding economic growth and developments in other areas of Pakistan during the 5-year term of PM Aziz and his team - under the overall leadership of President General Pervez Musharraf - is known to people and institutions (including inter alia the World Bank) at local, national, global and other levels - as appropriate. Likewise, matters pertaining to development related inadequacies during that period.

But sustaining the impressive gains achieved in pertinent areas during that period and the effort towards building upon those gains through the future period were constrained by limitations such as and as appropriate: the constitutional provisions pertaining to mobility (used in a wider sense) of care-taker government; the temporary nature of that government; the impact of internal disturbances - that witnessed inter alia the tragic death of PM Benezir (peace be upon her) - on the well-being of Pakistan; and unproductive and unnecessary speculations by concerned politicians, the media and others in relevant areas.

5. Factors responsible for the second PCO included inter alia: (i) the need for meeting challenges arising out of and in the course of excesses done by the country's superior judiciary with the help of certain judges under the leadership of the then Chief Judge Chaudhry - a Musharraf appointed PCO judge. A windfall from the development was threatening the basic edifice of government of Pakistan under a continually deteriorating law and order situation; (ii) the need for creating an enabling environment for a free and fair election in the country; (iii) the need for sustaining the benefits of NRO in the interest of say, peace and democracy in the country; and (iv) the need for protecting the country from an eminent danger of civil war, per se.

6. PCO and NRO beneficiaries (including inter alia the members of ruling coalition) should be subjected - as appropriate - to legal and other implications plus complications plus ramifications, in the event those instruments are challenged in the country's upcoming 'independent judiciary' for which (I mean the independent judiciary) PPP, PML-N (of lately), concerned lawyers and others have been reportedly fighting. I believe PM Nawaz, Senator Zardari, and others are ready to face - as applicable - those implications, complications and ramifications at least for the sake of sustaining and promoting the right justice at the right time and cost for all at all time. I believe Pak judiciary is now in dire need of examples of above nature.

The bottom line is: people of Pakistan and others cannot afford, among other things, to underestimate efforts and contributions of President Pervez Musharraf towards the well-being of Pakistan during peace times and in emergencies. He and his policies are, among other things, the cause, effect and causality of present day democratic status of Pakistan.

It is expected President Pervez Musharraf will fight his political case politically and his legal case legally provided that Pakistan could afford him political and legal assistance, as well as justice in pertinent areas.

President, his team and others (including inter alia friends of Pakistan) should also explore and exploit opportunities for the settlement of dispute in a timely, peaceful and result-oriented fashion and to the satisfaction of all concerned.

But if the situation of Pakistan demands - between now and in the immediate future - a declaration of the state emergency in the greater and overall interest of Pakistan and Pakistanis, the president should then act accordingly and refer the matter to Supreme Court of Pakistan for its action in accordance with the law of land. In such an event, it is also expected Armed Forces of Pakistan will again assist the president - as required - in relevant areas, again in the greater and overall interest of Pakistan and Pakistanis.

In the event of state emergency, it is hoped the president will declare new dates for elections in the country and make firm commitments to Pakistanis that he will submit to the people's will via those elections. One more thing, if the president feels he will not get the right justice from the people at the right time and cost in relevant areas, he might then elect to take a safe exit. Let justice prevail for all.