PML-N Senator Mushahid Hussain has advised party leader Nawaz Sharif to adopt a “generous” and “forward-looking” approach of “forgive, forget, and move on” regarding the accountability of former army generals.
Nawaz Sharif, who is set to return to Pakistan on October 21 after spending four years in London, has been demanding “strict accountability” of generals and judges, including former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, ex-spymaster Faiz Hamid, and former chief justices Asif Khosa and Saqib Nisar, for their alleged involvement in a 2017 conspiracy to remove him from power.
The change in Nawaz’s stance toward these former army generals and retired judges has raised concerns within the PML-N, with some leaders fearing backlash from the establishment.
Mushahid Hussain emphasized the importance of generosity and a forward-looking approach, citing the wisdom of figures like Nelson Mandela and Hazrat Ali. Although, he acknowledged Nawaz’s anger and the need for accountability but advised against pursuing a “tried, tested, and failed formula.”Hussain also questioned the effectiveness of the PML-N government’s accountability proceedings against former military dictator Pervez Musharraf, noting that the military establishment protects its chief, regardless of controversies, and wouldn’t allow a civilian outsider to try a soldier.
Moreover, he warned that continued focus on vengeance could lead to a military coup and urged politicians to prioritize national and public interests over personal grievances.Not only PML-N leaders but also some former allies, such as the PPP and the Istehkham-i-Pakistan Party (IPP), have cautioned Nawaz Sharif against pursuing action against the ex-generals. They have advised him to refrain from engaging in such conflicts and focus on broader political goals.
