Striking similarity between Justice Waqar’s remarks and CJ Khosa March 26 opinion

LAHORE: There is a remarkable similarity between the 169-page detailed verdict authored by the Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth in Musharraf high treason case and the March 26, 2019 remarks of Supreme Court Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, whereby the latterhad referred to the punishment given to a British dictator Oliver Cromwell, who was posthumously hanged and beheaded.

The detailed judgment authored by Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth states that Gen Pervez Musharraf, the former president and army chief, must be arrested and hanged till death; and if he dies before the sentence is executed, his body must be dragged to Islamabad’s D Chowk and hanged for three days. Interestingly, on March 26, 2019, while hearing a petition filed against halting of proceedings of the high treason case against Musharraf, Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa had viewed: “We cannot allow an accused to hold the court and law hostage, using his own will”. Heading a three-member Supreme Court bench, the top arbiter of the country had referred to the punishment given to a British dictator Oliver Cromwell, whose corpse was hanged after his death.

However, research conducted by the Jang Group and Geo Television Network reveals that while the honourable chief justice of Pakistan had opined that the punishment awarded to British dictator Oliver Cromwell was exemplary. An October 2002 poll of “BBC News” had selected (Cromwell) as one of the top 10 greatest Britons of all time!

The “BBC News” had written: “The top 10 greatest Britons of all time have been chosen - selected from a BBC phone and internet poll involving more than 30,000 Britons”. The full list comprised the likes of William Shakespeare (an English poet, playwright and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s greatest dramatist, great scientist Sir Isaac Newton (widely recognised as one of the most influential scientists of all times and as a key figure in the scientific revolution), former British premier Winston Churchill, Oliver Cromwell, noted biologist Charles Darwin (best known for his contributions to the science of evolution), Lady Diana, Princess of Wales, Queen Elizabeth I, John Lennon an English singer, songwriter and peace activist who gained worldwide fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles), Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson (a decorated British flag officer in the Royal Navy) and Isambard Kingdom Brunel (a British civil engineer who is considered “one of the most ingenious and prolific figures in engineering history”, “one of the 19th-century engineering giants,” and “one of the greatest figures of the Industrial Revolution”.

The British media house had written: “Only three of the top 10 are from the 20th century - Lennon, Churchill and Princess Diana. Three are scientists or engineers - Brunel, noted biologist Darwin and Newton - and three are national leaders - Cromwell, Elizabeth I and Churchill. Among those in the lower reaches who failed to make the 10 were Captain James Cook, Sir Francis Drake, Johnny Rotten, Margaret Thatcher and Geoffrey Chaucer. The Queen failed to make it into the top 10, but Elizabeth I did”.

Meanwhile, BBC’s controller, Jane Root, had said: “I think the top 10 is a really interesting mix of contenders and we’ve got some fantastic presenters all desperate for their Great Briton to win, so we’re in for a really exciting competition. I hope people all around the country will be moved by the passion in their argument and will join in the debate and get voting”.

Who was Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658)?

According to Thomas Carlyle’s 1887 book “Oliver Cromwell’s letters and speeches,” Winston Churchill’s four-volume history of Britain and its former colonies and possessions throughout the world, titled “A history of English speaking people”, John Morrill’s 2004 book “Cromwell, Oliver (1599-1658) and Michael Siochru’s book “God’s executioner”, Oliver was an English military and political leader who had served as head of state and head of government of the British Republic simultaneously from 1653 until his death.

He hailed from the family of King Henry VIII. Cromwell’s paternal grandfather Sir Henry Williams was one of the two wealthiest landowners. He was an intensely religious man, who believed God was guiding his victories. He fought wars and demonstrated his ability as a commander. Cromwell was one of the signatories of King Charles I’s death warrant in 1649. The British monarch was executed on charges of treason. In April 1653, he had dismissed his country’s parliament by force. Although he died from natural causes in 1658, his grave was dug up in January 1661 and the exhumed corpse was hung in chains. His head was cut off and publicly displayed on a pole until 1685. Cromwell is thought to have suffered from malaria and from a kidney stone, leading to his demise. He was buried in London’s famous Westminster Abbey (royal church in the centre of London offering daily services for all and a World Heritage Site with over a thousand years of history) with an elaborated funeral.

Although dubbed a military dictator by former British premier Winston Churchill, Cromwell was considered a hero by many like Thomas Carlyle, a legendary Scottish historian, satirical writer, essayist, translator, philosopher, mathematician and teacher. Several biographies were published soon after Cromwell’s death. These books provide a nuanced assessment of him as an energetic campaigner for liberty of conscience who is brought down by pride and ambition.