Treason and upstarts.

The Special Court verdict on the treason of Ex-President Pervez Musharraf has opened a can of stinking worms. Perhaps these worms can best be described as upstarts of opportunity. The first lesson and abject reality are that in the highest echelons of politics in Pakistan, loyalties and allegiances can be switched for personal gains.

In the past 12 years, the biggest flock of cuckoos re-nestled themselves into various political parties to continue what they do best. It is time for them to leave for good. The bird's nest must be converted into an eagle's eyrie.

The second lesson learnt is that any leader in the Pakistani environment lowers guard and does not remain in awe of such carpetbaggers and illegitimate children of the opportunity will be isolated in times of crunch.

This palace intrigue of Ex-President Musharraf's tenure is now reaching its logical conclusions. It lasted over 16 years; perhaps the filthiest and longest in Pakistan's history. It is not just General Musharraf who became a Greek Tragedy during this game of deceit, betrayals and intrigues. In the initial phase of this drama, the Daughter of the East Benazir Bhutto was assassinated most controversially. Musharraf was clueless over what had happened. The simple question of who benefitted has still not been answered.

Centres of power in Pakistan need to realise that there are no holy cows. Each is a vital organ of the state and must function in concert for the greatness of the country. Checks and balances are not invasive but systemic with self-course correction mechanisms. Virtues and good practices should never be compromised for the sake of an individual. Integrity and purity of organisational structures are cardinal.

There is something known as sympathetic detonations. It is a flashover, usually unintended, of an explosive charge by a nearby explosion. What has happened in the Judiciary, Executive and the Armed Forces in the past 16 years is this phenomenon. The perpetuation of acrimony in the form of judicial activism, corruption by rulers and the buzzword of Civilian Supremacy were utilised cleverly to mask and smokescreen much bigger crimes and designs.

Not just the uniform, all have been hurt; the honourable judges, the honest politicians, the fighting soldiers and the hapless people of Pakistan. Interestingly there is one common denominator. Each organ is hurt by its own.

A glance around will expose a sidekick of media persons who became rich aristocrats within two...