October 14, 2004, was the darkest day in the history of Pakistan, because on that day the very people ,who had sworn to defend it, raped the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

On that dark day, the National Assembly, less the opposition, passed the awkwardly titled, “President To Hold Another Office Bill 2004”; allowing General Musharraf to remain in office beyond December 31st. The opposition opposed it. But the Speaker National Assembly, that pliable handmaiden of the establishment; despite having a no-confidence motion filed by the opposition members against him, bulldozed the passage of the bill, sans a full debate.

The hapless constitution of this hapless country has been raped on numerous times previously also; but this was the first time that it has been done so by its very custodians: the mercenary parliamentarians of the treasury benches.
But even the opposition and particularly, the mullah brigade cannot be exonerated, for their criminal role to help the perpetuation of the military rule at the expense of democratic norms. The mullah-brigade collaborated with the General to rape and mutilate the constitution by striking a deal on LFO, and ushering in the 17th amendment in the constitution. There is no precedence of a political entity striking a “deal” with a military usurper, to amend the constitution to serve parochial and individual interests. Because of this unholy deal, Musharraf was “allowed” to hold the position of the COAS, currently with the office of the President. The constitution does not mandate any such “deal”. But the fact remains, that as a quid pro quo for handing over power in the NWFP to MMA, Musharraf was given respite to continue wearing his army uniform.

It is ludicrous, to say the least, that the same self-serving mullahs are striking a belligerent posture and threatening to stir up an agitation, if Musharraf does not doff off his uniform by December 31st as stipulated in the MMA-Musharraf “deal”.

Despite the illegitimacy of the “deal”, Musharraf had made a solemn promise to the nation, that come December 31st and he would metamorphose into a civilian president and relinquish the position of the COAS. But now he has rendered asunder his credibility by reneging on his promise.

And why is the opposition, which opposed the passage of the bill also culpable? The opposition is also part of the Parliament which has accepted the paramountcy of the military rule and has accepted the inclusion of the LFO as part of the constitution; their verbal opposition notwithstanding. Had their opposition to the present political dispensation genuine and principled, they would have remained outside the Parliament. It would also do to bear in mind, that most of the treasury members are drawn from the same opposition, and given enough inducements and incentive, many more, like their erst-while colleagues would not take much time, to mutate chameleon-like to cross the floor.

The international champions of democracy are mute on this perfidy, because in Musharraf they find a willing accomplice, to further their nefarious geopolitical agenda. Let it be conceded, that some of the actions taken on the behest of the external powers by the Musharraf regime, were in the strategic interest of Pakistan; like disconnecting the nexus with the Taliban and move towards peace with India. But, let it also be stated that we have capitulated our sovereignty, to the extent of being grossly inimical and detrimental to our national interests.

On October 12, 2004, Musharraf waxed eloquence to deride and denigrate the “sham” democracy and promised to deliver and establish “real” democracy. But during the past half a decade, all actions of Musharraf had been to make the political soil barren for any nourishment of democracy, however nebulous. Musharraf’s energies and focus has been geared towards the perpetuation and aggrandizement of his own rule and power. True, there was no democracy worth the name when Musharraf took over; but entrenching military rule and subverting all norms of democracy, however nascent and tenuous; mutilating the constitution is no panacea for our problems.

The last five years of Musharrafian dispensation bears incontrovertible testimony of subversion of the constitution and democratic norms. The military coup; the extra-constitutional referendum; the rigged elections; the notorious LFO; the establishment of NSC; the whimsical hiring and firing of Prime Ministers; the reneging of a promise and now this anomalous bill.
Musharraf and his sycophantic cohorts are shamelessly peddling the mantra of Musharraf’s indispensability. They argue that a uniformed Musharraf is indispensable to the security, stability and progress of Pakistan. And laughably, some, who are inclined to be more sycophantic than others add, that in the last five years democracy has been strengthened (sic!).
Lest Musharraf and his hanger-ons, the apostles of democracy forget: the dustbins of history are over-flowing with the carcasses of those who professed indispensability and immortality. History does not record any single instance of an individual been indispensable.

The example of the dictator Zia, that past-master of hypocrisy and chicanery is manifestly clear and poignant: he also thought that he was indispensable, suffice it to say that all that remains of him in the precincts of the Faisal Mosque is his jaw. So much for indispensability.

The passage of bill in the lower house is expected to be enacted as law is beyond doubt. It is going to be a death-knell for whatever residual democracy exists in the country. It implies that the constitution has been raped, law subverted, and the sovereignty and the sanctity of the Parliment has been humiliated and compromised. Now the Prime Minister, the cabinet and the parliament are all firmly under the heavy treads of the military jackboot. And the pusillimanity and cravenness of the parliamentarians themselves has rendered it all.

The treasury members, by passing this bill, have not only violated their own oath, they have also equated themselves with the abrogators of the Constitution.

In civilized countries, military is subservient to the political government. But in Pakistan everything is perverted and inverted!