Pakistan ex-president Pervez Musharraf should submit to the law

In this regard, Musharraf’s dramatic exit from Islamabad High Court yesterday, following the rejection of his extension of bail in the judges’ detention case — in which he is a proclaimed offender — does not go down well with his stature of a former president. If one accepts a bail, one has to deal with its denial also — gracefully. No one is above the law and Musharraf should abide by submitting to it rather than asking his security guards to whisk him out of the court. There are other alternatives such as protective bail and this is something the chief coordinator of his party, the All Pakistan Muslim League, intends to obtain.

People in Pakistan expect and deserve good governance and rule of law. The judiciary and an independent election commission are two important institutions that can help strengthen order and ensure that public choices are reflected in the polls. Moreover, the caretaker government must ensure impartiality of all state institutions at this critical juncture, when there is already high tension in view of the sharp rise in attacks on politicians. The country is facing serious security and economic challenges and it is important that everyone, including government officials and politicians, shares responsibility in meeting these challenges.