A SALARIED private militia maintained by Nawab Akbar Bugti had killed 231 security personnel of our army, FC, police and levies who were trying to restore the writ of the state to Dera Bugti, before he was himself accidentally killed in a cave.

Was he allowed to maintain a private army under the Constitution of Pakistan? Why is there a case against Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf for quelling this ‘fitna’?

While Bugti and his private army men are portrayed as innocent patriotic Pakistanis, Musharraf is being tried for murder and terrorism!

Almost 11 soldiers, including a highly decorated and respected lieutenant colonel, were killed by hostile fire in Lal Masjid in Islamabad. Was this hostile fire opened by ‘namazis’ or armed terrorists? What were they defending? Did they come to the mosque with arms to offer prayers or defy the state?

A basic principle of the legal system in England, the cradle of democracy, is that “every man’s house is his castle, but the doors of the castle must open at the knock of a law officer”.

Lal Masjid should have been opened for inspection at the knock of an ASI of the Aabpara police station. But it cost the state 11 lives to enter the mosque. The criminals are martyrs and national heroes, while Gen Musharraf is a terrorist!

And even the courts are refusing to exempt his personal appearance. Is it vendetta, compromise or indifference?

I am confused. White is black, but how?

Rafi Pervaiz Bhatti
Lahore