Random thoughts

By Dr A Q Khan
March 28, 2016
Print : Opinion

55

Part I
The whole nation was witness to Musharrafs boastful statements over the past two
years, claiming: I am not afraid of anything, I will face the courts etc. Where is he
now? Fled like a thief in the night!
Our well-known defence analyst and former army officer, Ikram Sehgal, dubbed
Musharraf as a G T Road General based on the fact that Musharrafs whole career
was spent moving from one place to another along the G T Road. He never took active
part in any war, never fired a shot at the enemy and never faced enemy fire. How ironic
that such a man became responsible for our national safety. A similar case was that of
Yahya Khan, and the country was broken up.
Now our G T Road General has fled the country a country seething with blood,
terrorism, suicide attacks, attacks on our jawans and innocent civilians, a country
serving as mercenaries to the Americans. We are now a divided nation killing each
other. Our soldiers are not facing bullets from outsiders but from the enemies within;
and all this because our G T Road General buckled down at one phone call, a threat. He
lied, telling us that if he had not accepted US demands they would have pushed us back
into the stone age, and that India would have agreed to provide facilities.
The Indians, having no common border with Afghanistan, could not have done anything.
The other country, in a much better position to assist, was Iran. They had Bandar Abbas,
a large port, and a motorway right up to the Afghan border. But they lacked one thing
a cowardly ruler. The US did not dare to threaten Iran or use that country to attack and
destroy Afghanistan. But the US knew Musharraf would comply. He not only agreed to all
their demands, but gave them even more than they asked for.
Even his closest colleagues in the army did not know what was going on and he did not
consult the air and naval chiefs either. American documents reveal this and the fact that
they hated him for selling our sovereignty and national interests. The person who was
considered a usurper, a dictator, a pariah, suddenly became Americas darling for
selling our national interests.
We all saw his real face when he made excuses, claiming to be severely sick, every time
a court ordered him to appear before it. The claim that treatment for back pain was not
available in the country does not ring true. I was operated upon for near paralysis by
Prof Dr Khaliq uz Zaman and his wife, Prof Dr Samina Khaliq, both top-notch
neurosurgeons, and am once again walking normally and living a full life. My dear
friend, Admiral Saeed Muhammad Khan, was operated upon at Aga Khan Hospital in
Karachi for a back problem and recovered well. Neither Admiral Saeed Khan nor I asked

the government to send us abroad for treatment. We know that Musharrafs claim is a
lie.
Our G T Road General has promised to return after treatment. I have serious doubts. Did
Hussain Haqqani return after making a similar promise? Only martial law can bring
Musharraf back and that wont happen again. Before leaving the country he claimed to
be practically at deaths door, but we all saw him climbing the steps of the plane,
walking and smoking as if he didnt have a care in the world. The next day, despite his
serious condition, he was presiding over a meeting of his political party.
With due respect, I beg to submit that the judiciary did not play its role well. They have
wide powers and could easily have declared his bungalow a sub-jail, heard the case and
passed judgement. If convicted, it would have been up to the PM and the president to
decide whether he should be pardoned or not. He has been allowed to walk away; and
none of those who previously talked big on the issue protested. The interior minister
now says Musharraf did not give any guarantee to return if required to do so by court.
The whole episode leaves us with a bad taste in our mouths.
I knew Musharraf when he was corps commander Mangla. I used to receive senior
Malaysian officers who came to Pakistan in connection with assistance to Bosnian
Muslims. One Gen Ismael once told me that he knew Musharraf as they had been
together
during
training
in
England. He asked if he could meet him and I invited Musharraf to have dinner with us.
I also invited him, as a courtesy, when we launched Ghauri on April 6, 1998 because
the Tilla Range was in his area. He was hesitant to accept as he had not been invited by
Gen Jehangir Karamat and Gen Zulfiqar Ali Khan, DG Weapons and Equipment, attached
with the CGS/COAS, who was helping us with strategic support. Those invited sat on top
of a small building about 200 metres from the launching pad.
Musharraf was clearly not sober and I made known my displeasure by telling him that
this was an auspicious occasion and that his behaviour was most inappropriate. I guess
he never forgot that snub and I was to pay for it later. I can narrate many instances of
unfounded accusations and personal vindictiveness.
Musharraf hosted a farewell dinner for Dr Ishfaq (retiring at the same time) and me. In
his farewell speech he eulogised my services in superlative terms, but those words were
soon forgotten when he went all-out, once again to please his American masters, to
character assassinate me by all means available.
To be continued
Email: dr.a.quadeer.khan@gmail.com