THIS refers to Prof Anwar Syed's article, 'Musharraf on trial' (Aug 23), in which he opposes the trial of the former dictator on the grounds that such an act will pave the way for the generals to take advantage of incoherent and weak civilian government and take power once again.

Prof Syed as a senior scholar knows that when there is no fear of accountability, one can act in whatever manner one likes.

In 1999 Musharraf, along with his collaborators, was sure that if he seized the power, incarcerated the elected prime minister and ultimately exiled him, nothing will happen to him.

In 2006-07 Musharraf was sure that if he ordered the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and Balach Khan Marri, etc, nobody will bother about it because of his dubiously supportive role in the war on terrorism.

Moreover, he knew how to take care of the public opinion with the US support.

In 2007 Musharraf and his associates were confident that if the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, along with a few brave judges, were put under house arrest, their salaries were stopped, their water, gas and electricity lines were disconnected, nothing will happen to him and his confidants.

But the lawyers' movement, supported by the media and civil society, turned tide against him. Now he is on the run.

Unfortunately, when his trial is demanded, some of his political allies are opposing the move while the PPP wallahs are lecturing on 'reconciliation' without admission of guilt by the wrongdoers.

It is not only Musharraf's domestic supporters but the oldest democracy, Great Britain, which is making him comfortable on its soil and trying to save him from a trial.

DR MEHTAB ALI SHAH
Jamshoro

(II)

THIS is apropos of the news report, 'SC moved against Musharraf; PML-N disowns Zafar's plea” (Aug 23).

A well-known member of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Senator Zafar Ali Shah, who is also a Senior VP of the PML (N), has moved the Supreme Court, outrightly on behalf of his party seeking trial of former president Pervez Musharraf under Article 6 on charges of abrogating the Constitution twice.

When it rains, frogs come out of their holes and love to splash and puddle around, croak and pray in unison. This is exactly what Nawaz Sharif and his followers are now doing.

Neither Mr Sharif nor his followers had the guts to speak out when Pervez Musharraf took over and rather abandoned Pakistan after giving an undertaking to Musharraf that he wouldn't take part in politics for 10 years.

Certainly, Pervez Musharraf should be given a fair trial but before that Nawaz Sharif and his trusted office- holders should stand trial for waging a war against the sitting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, dividing the judges into two camps and toppling over the CJ who was in the midst of hearing the contempt case against prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Nawaz Sharif has an endless list of crimes which will unfold if his trial starts.

To restore his honour and image as an ace politician, he should ask for a fair trial before Musharraf's.

LT COL (r) SYED AHMED
Mississauga