Asghar Khan case: accountability for all

Published
6

THIS refers to Salman Akram Raja’s op-ed ‘Courting history’ (Nov 2). As an ordinary citizen, I am so confused by the heroes that have been projected by the media.

The current chief justice was a part of the court that endorsed the army’s ouster of Nawaz Sharif’s democratically-elected government and then gave the unasked for power to the military regime to amend the Constitution.

He also took the oath under PCO. He continues to be portrayed as a person in favour of the independent judiciary and democracy and as someone who stood up to the military.

No one dares to challenge him to explain and amend for his not-so-distant past actions.

Now, suddenly, Asghar Khan has become a hero.

His dubious role in the 1977 coup has been documented by all sides negotiating for a democratic solution of the crisis on hand then. Just as it did IJI in 1990, the military had engineered PNA in 1976-77 and worked behind the scene to overthrow an elected government.

Can the media take Asghar Khan to task for his connection then with the military, his role in the 1977 coup, and hold him accountable for the colossal setback the nation suffered as a result of the 1977 coup?

NADIR ABBAS Islamabad

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