Pakistan leaders arrest and isolate Musharraf

Pervez Musharraf, former President of Pakistan is facing prosecution. Last week he returned to Pakistan, after a 4 year self-imposed exile in London. Instead of a welcome, he faced an arrested. According to the The New York Times, last Thursday, Musharraf sped out of the city courthouse in a black S.U.V., trying to avoid being arrested. He was nonetheless picked up by police on Friday at his home, and taken to central Islamabad before a magistrate, where he was formally charged with the unlawful detention of judges during his term as president in 2007. During his Presidency, he placed Pakistan on an "emergency rule", and had the country's Chief Justice, Mohammad Iftikhar Chaudhry, dismissed. According to the BBC, he is also suspect in two murders, the deaths of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and a tribal leader by the name of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti. At this time, he has not been indicted for murder related charges.

The Islamabad magistrate ordered him to be kept in detention for 48 hours, to later be put before an anti-terrorism court. He is being held in a luxurious farmhouse, yet isolated with no access to staff or lawyers, according to The Express Tribune. The State Department has not issued any statements about Musharraf's arrest, mostly likely because of the U.S.'s shaky history with Pakistan. When 9/11 happened, the U.S. turned to Pakistan for assistance in capturing terrorists. Musharraf, who was President at the time, was very understanding, cooperative and receptive to to the idea; and of course U.S. financial backing was helpful in making the alliance possible. In a press conference with George W. Bush, both men are seen together in an effort to fight terrorism.

The President Bush News Conference
With President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan

Musharraf’s term as President of Pakistan paralleled George Bush’s, he governed from 2001 to 2008, but unlike Bush, he took power through a military coup. Both presidents lost popularity towards the end of 2008, and Musharraf resigned as Pakistan's president to avoid the possibility of an impeachment from opponents.

Musharraf was able to keep equilibrium in his country when he was president. Most of the public had already suspected that Osama bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan after 9/11. So on one end, Musharraf was able to receive aid, money, and military equipment, for his country’s cooperation, yet ultimately he had the trump card: Osama bin laden. When bin Laden was caught and executed, it was clear that the former Pakistan president did not like it, neither did the Taliban. The Pakistan Taliban had vowed to assassinate Musharraf, and harbored resentment towards him since he seized power of Pakistan in 1999. Once Bin laden was captured and executed, he changed his supportive opinion, and in an interview with Morgan Pierce on CNN, he made it very clear that he perceived that act as an invasion of Pakistan.

Musharraf’s return to his homeland was fueled by his desire to return to politics, and he had hoped he could run for the presidency. He was declined the opportunity when he requested in March, and now he may pay the ultimate price for stepping forward at all. 

As published on Examiner.com