ISLAMABAD: Despite approval of his bail in the last of the four criminal cases a week back, former president General Pervez Musharraf is completely mum contrary to the high-pitched activities incarcerated politicians would always engage in with a lightning speed immediately after such a development.
Political figures usually lead “victory” processions and attend receptions by the rank and file of their party to celebrate their “vindication.” Musharraf’s approach is a clear departure from the time-tested tradition.
After acceptance of his bails in all the four criminal cases by different courts, he has a lot to say against his “perpetrators” but he has preferred the opposite course.
No hordes of activists and workers of his All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) have rushed to the farmhouse to greet their leader. Some selected people, however, have started meeting him at his abode. Such sessions are hardly of any consequence.
Since there has been no activity, what to talk about celebrations, by Musharraf and his APML since approval of his bail, the development has gone unnoticed and has turned out to be a nonevent. There have been no appearances on private TV channels, which abound and are always in search of breaking news.
No justifiable reason is available for his absolute silence. Despite the undoing of restraint on his movements, Musharraf continues to remain confined to his sprawling Chak Shehzad Islamabad farmhouse. It is not heard what he is doing there except staying put.
While his APML is in tatters, and it was never was a force to be taken seriously anyway, and no leader is available to justify Musharraf’s muteness, Ahmed Raza Kasuri, advocate, who has been representing him in different courts, has an explanation to offer for strictly holding his views to himself and not even rejoicing his bails.
“Musharraf is not a politician, who would raise slogans while walking out of the confinement that he can’t live up to,” Kasuri was yesterday quoted by The News daily, rationalising his silence. He said the former president was in touch with different powerful figures including those from his previous institution and international personalities.
“When the ongoing consultations will conclude, Musharraf will say something that would be relevant for the next three years in Pakistan’s politics,” he claimed in his usual way.
Kasuri said the former president would take some more days before making his plan public for the first time after the acceptance of his bails. The submission of a petition in the Sindh High Court (SHC) by a lawyer on Musharraf’s behalf on Tuesday to get his name erased from the Exit Control List (ECL) is clearly indicative of his plan to quickly leave Pakistan to be with his old ailing mother in Dubai.
There was every possibility that Musharraf might have flown out of Pakistan hurriedly after approval of his bail, but his swift departure was hampered for being his name on the ECL. He will certainly go out Pakistan if and when this restriction goes.
However, as far as the Nawaz Sharif government is concerned, it will not take off Musharraf’s name from the ECL on its own. It will only follow the court order in this regard. But it is yet to decide whether or not to put his name on the ECL again in connection with the investigation about the high treason charge that the government has committed to the Supreme Court to frame.
It is likely that Musharraf has decided not to embark upon high-profile political activities, knowing that he is not much relevant politically and can’t pose any threat to any political party including his main adversary, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
Internews
