GEN Pervez Musharraf has been incarcerated and the champions of democracy are terming it a victory of democracy. They ignore all the good developments during his tenure. They forget the inflow of foreign investment, a booming economy, transformation of the Higher Education Commission into an independent institution and better law and order.

They have disregarded record foreign reserves, improved relations with all neighbouring countries, a better-equipped army, the completion of a record number of projects in Karachi and the rest of the country.

The main allegation is that Musharraf broke the law and promoted undemocratic forces. What’s the point in having law when these laws were being manipulated, taking the country down? What’s the point in having such a democracy which cannot improve the livelihood of the people?

Does the nation want this kind of democracy which is unable to give relief to the people?

If the legal community is really sincere, it should do something about the 350,000 cases pending in different courts. The fundamentals of Islam are the provision of prompt justice irrespective of how influential complainants and the accused are.

But our courts are unable to provide justice. Proceedings drag on for so long that all witnesses are hushed up. Justice delayed is justice denied.

The champions of democracy forget foreign policy during their own tenure which was under the hegemony of America. Which democratic government has not supported US policies? Be it the PML-N or the PPP, or anyone else? If Musharraf’s decisions were wrong, what did the democratic government do to reverse these decisions?

The nation has witnessed humiliating events during the tenure of the democratic government such as the US military operation to kill Osama bin Laden, violating Pakistan’s sovereignty, Haqqani’s Pandora’s box, the Raymond Davis affair and the Salala attack by US forces.

The champions of democracy must tell if Lal Masjid was simply a seminary having only innocent students.

Then who were the people who fought the army commandos?

What was heavy ammunition, including anti-aircraft guns, which mostly state armies possess, doing there? Before the military operation, ample time was provided to the militants to surrender but they did not.

Our capital was held hostage by the militants.

The so-called nationalist leader Akbar Bugti had his own private army of 17,000 to 18,000 which was fighting against the Pakistan Army. Bugti’s army was subjugating the native Baloch who were against him.

He was challenging the writ of the government and running a state within a state. What relief was he providing to his countrymen or to this nation?

As for Benazir, she had her own security officer, security circle, the bulletproof car (with instructions not to peep outside). The inner security circle comprised the PPP’s own security.

The PPP government did not find any clues of actual perpetrators even during their own government. The PPP should find black sheep among their own rank instead of putting onus on somebody else.

If the NRO is illegal, then its fallout should not be limited to Musharraf. All those who are directly or indirectly beneficiary of the NRO should be brought to book.

HASAN SHARIQ Karachi