Folks, thanks for the splendid response. Ever since I have posted the letter on this site and mailed it to friends far and wide I have received uncountable calls, sms’ and emails. The greatest thing is the solidarity I have found in response. Almost everyone who communicated has supported my stance. I must say I am indebted.
There was only one friend who seemed critical of the media and the way it has handled the issue. I told him something simple. That the current crisis is not about the Chief Justice but about Pervez Musharraf. People are really tired of him. Frankly I do not wish ill for him. I had developed indeed some liking for him and that I must say that in some part of my heart some bits and pieces of that still remain despite all his irresponsible actions. But honestly it is time for him to move on. It is the last chance he has to prove that he is a well wisher of the country by stepping down. Otherwise this issue will snowball and he’ll be gone within no time.
Now let us take the case of the Chief Justice. My problem with the case is that it was handled in very crude and hideous fashion. The fact that the reference against the CJ has not been made public to date and that probably only a part of it was presented in the Supreme Judicial Council proves that there were no great charges and the evidence to implicate is still being produced. Even if we are convinced that the CJ was part of any serious crime we have to remember that he was chosen by Musharraf himself. Musharraf is all in all of this country for seven years and has access to national and foreign intelligence. Why could he not choose a more capable man for the post? This essentially indicates that it is essentially political scapegoating. What is the purpose of all this talk about freedom of expression, media and open government if you do not believe in it?
If you think that the crisis will fade away with today’s events I do not believe it. I believe that the crisis will further brew and will lead Musharraf to do even more stupid, perhaps against his own constituency, the army.
I believe that the time ripe is ripe for his ‘abdication’. He needs not to worry about his life. With the exception of Zia all general presidents survived owing to the support of the US after stepping down.
Let us see Musharraf’s chief victims after he rose to eminence. General Ali Kuli Khan, Farooq Leghari (supported Nawaz at that time), the then Chief Justice, General Karamat, Nawaz Sharif, President Rafique Tarrar, a number of judges under PCO, his own appointed Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali (the first Baloch premier of the country), his own general friends, Nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, Nawab Akbar Bugti and now the CJ. Maybe you’ll like to read my review of Pervez Musharraf’s In the Line of Fire
titled End of the line and End of the line – final cut .
And oh yes, I must thank Mr Fakhruddin G Ibrahim and Kamran Khan voicing concerns which seemed similar to mine. For a while I felt that Mr Ibrahim was talking to me and supporting my point of you. Sir you are great and don’t we will do our best to do what it takes. And Kamran Khan I have to say only one thing to you, of course if you are listening: You rock!!!

Posted by farrukh at 14:58:40.