On Saturday- the seventh day of so-called Emergency in Pakistan by dictator Musharraf, it is very much obvious now that it was Martial Law and not the Emergency, as claimed the regime. The ugly face of the dictatorial Musharraf regime was further exposed on Saturday when the General amended the Army Act 1952 to give wide ranging powers to the Army to court martial the civilians. Under this amendment Army can now try civilians on charges of treason, sedition and giving statements, conducive to public mischief.
The regime said this is meant to try the terrorists in the military courts. But in view of the latest deals and swap of arrested Taliban with Mullahs in Swat and Wasirastan with Extremists there is strong apprehension that the amendment is specific for the civilians arrested.
There is strong likelihood that many of those protestors arrested since Nov 3 under Emergency will now be taken to the military courts for speedy trials. It is pertinent to mention that many of us were the view from the day first that it was Martial Law and not Emergency. Thus Musharaf has in fact imposed Martial law twice in his 8 years of rule.
Many of the arrested comrades and lawyers leaders who gave tough time to Musharraf are facing real threat of court martial now. They may include Aitzaz Ehsan, Ali Ahmed Kurd and Munir A Malik.