WHILE terrorists are on the rampage killing scores of people each day, the economy is a shambles, energy shortage is crippling and Pakistan is considered one of the most dangerous countries of the world, our rulers are stuck in fruitless efforts of correcting the wrongs of history and constitutional niceties.

The first lesson of management, may it be in military or in civilian schools, is that identify your targets and then prioritise your actions.

At present the politicians, the judiciary and the media seem to have lost their sense of direction and ability to sequence their priorities in the order of their importance and urgency.

Everybody is out to get the former president, Gen ( r ) Pervez Musharraf. I have never been a supporter of the military coups, though I served the army for 35 years. Some of the reasons for not supporting the army’s involvement in politics were that it brings a bad name to the forces and affects its professionalism.

However, I think that the media, politicians and the judiciary should focus on the urgent issues that are tearing the national fabric. And stop massaging their inflated egos by hounding a beleaguered general. His disgrace is his punishment.

We should now move on with full energy without any distraction to address the immediate issues of terrorisms, economic revival and bridging the energy shortage.

Loss of human life is indeed more important than putting the legal record straight and appeasing the leaders of the historic ‘Black Coat’ movement.

BRIG. ( r ) SHAMSHAD KHANKarachi

Article 6 and national issues

DURING the May elections Nawaz Sharif had said that if voted to power his party would be ready to implement an energy plan soon after assuming power.

On June 6 he said in the National Assembly that they had ‘formulated’ a comprehensive plan to fight power outages, and this would be unveiled in his address to the nation.

However, on his first appearance in the National Assembly after assuming power the prime minister, instead of unfolding his energy and economic policy, announced the trial of former president Perevez Musharraf under Article 6 of the constitution.

This seems to be an attempt to divert people’s attention from their real issues. Nevertheless, the nation is still anxious to hear his national address, perhaps delayed due to the presence of animated media and angry opposition, besides the restive public.

The prime minister ought to keep in view the sentiments of the people who, being at the receiving end, continue to suffer on account of unscheduled loadsheddings and their problems being multiplied with every passing day. Therefore, the prime minister needs to address the nation as early as possible and unfold his short- and long-term energy policies, as well as open up his economic agenda to appease his opponents and the public.

R. SHAFAATIslamabad

Learning from past

THE National Assembly has unanimously agreed to try Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf for high treason. One should see this as a praiseworthy act of the newly-elected government of the PML-N.

It will be appropriate to nullify only those actions taken by Gen Musharraf since Oct 1999, especially those detrimental to the ‘original’ constitution of Pakistan such as NRO and appointments of PCO judges.

Another action being contemplated by the newly-elected government is reopening of Swiss cases against Asif Zardari which were initially started by the Ehtesab Bureau of the previous PML-N government.

In Pakistan, it seems that ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same’. It is only hoped that all this is not ‘ehtesab’ (accountability) drive that was started by the PML-N government with Saifur Rehman many years ago.

I. AHMEDCanada

Truth Commission

AS Chief of Army Staff, Pervez Musharraf was successful in retrieving the high ground on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control on the Kargil Glacier, which had been occupied by the Indians.

He was, however, forced to withdraw. The prime minister then refused permission to the plane carrying the COAS, Gen Musharraf, returning from an official visit to a friendly state, to land in Pakistan with only enough fuel to land in India.

If this was not an act of treason, what else is?

Now, he had enough faith to return to the country to clear his name or risk imprisonment, though he could have retired in comfort in Britain. Law and order, industry and commerce, and power and energy supply were better during his tenure.

The witch-hunt against him is unnecessary, and should be stopped. This requires a ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’ on the pattern established in South Africa, not a prolonged high-profile political vendetta trial; and attention and effort must be shifted to restoring the economy and establishing law and order in the country.

FAROOQ ALIUnited States

Justice for all

ARTICLE 6 of the constitution pertaining to high treason states (1) any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or holds in abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance the Constitution by use of force or show of force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason.

(2) Any person aiding or abetting [or collaborating] the acts mentioned in clause (1) shall likewise be guilty of high treason.

Even a sixth grader can interpret Article 6 of the constitution when it talks about the subverter, abettor or the collaborator. There are no sacred cows. Fair justice demands trial of all without any discrimination.

DR IRFAN ZAFAR
Islamabad