Talent is nurtured in solitude; character is formed in the stormy billows of the world. Goethe Former dictator Feneral (retd) Pervez Musharraf seems to be unaware about the ABC of politics. The General amid a lot of fanfare launched his party called the All-Pakistan Muslim League, expecting a lot of turncoats to immediately join his new party. Musharraf also confided with some of his close aides that his party would have an immediate impact in the National Assembly because a group of sitting MNAs would also be joining his political party. None of that has happened so far and no elected member, or for that matter any other politician of conscience, has joined hands with the former President. He failed his first test as a politician, when a group of PML-N workers tried to disrupt a political gathering arranged by him in which he used street language against his political opponents - more specifically against Mian Nawaz Sharif. In reaction, Muslim League (Nawaz group) workers were seen bashing the posters of the former President with their shoes. This does not mean that Pakistani political culture is clean and works on dignified principles. We are aware of several politicians, who can easily ditch their mother political party and sail over to fertile pastures to achieve personal objectives which in some cases may even be detrimental to national interest. This is the reason that in the recent past we have seen the creation of what was called a patriotic group that sprang from within the ranks of Pakistan Peoples Party allowing Musharraf to cobble up a government of his liking. More recently, it was seen that a sizeable group of members of the Punjab Assembly and some members of the National Assembly left their mother political party, PML-Q, and formed what is now known as the like-minded group. This group was formed to support PML-N more specifically in the province of Punjab, where Mian Shahbaz Sharif need more votes in the Assembly to form a government. Therefore, it would not be entirely proper, if all the burden of such political behaviour is pinned on the shoulders of Musharraf. However, the statements and counter statements issued by the former dictator and leaders of PML-N have culminated in the issuance of a damning charge sheet against the former President. The charge sheet contains 14 serious charges like the imposition of martial law, concealing the Kargil issue from the elected government, corrupting the army, declaration of war against the people of Pakistan using NAB as an instrument of blackmailing, murder of Nawab Akbar Bugti, disappearance of people in Balochistan, the Lal Masjid episode, abducting and handing of Pakistani citizens to foreigners, nepotism, illegal action against judiciary, issuance of NRO and illegal election to the office of President of Pakistan. It will also ensure that Musharraf does not succeed in creating a following for his political party in the country that may create problems for PML-N and its leadership. More so, this charge sheet has been issued at a time when PPP is embroiled in several serious issues that are confronting this country. However, it will also exert some pressure on the Peoples Party, since it will now be forced to openly take a position on the issue of the former President and tell the people, as to whether they intend to speak against the former dictator keeping view his latest outbursts against the stated foreign policy goals of the government of Pakistan. This charge sheet will also provide some political comfort to the MQM leaders, who feared that participation of Musharraf in Pakistani politics could erode their support from urban Sindh, as it would be targeted by Musharraf - if ever he wants to return to this country. Another significant aspect that the mainstream politicians feared from Musharraf is that he is preaching for a constitutional role of the armed forces in Pakistan, while everyone is aware that there is no role for the army in the political affairs of the country. That the Constitution of Pakistan allows no such role for the armed forces. However, there are some, besides Musharraf, who would support any fancy idea that would allow them to creep back into the corridors of power even without popular support. So, it has become incumbent on all those, who believe in democratic norms, that they should evolve a consensus that would not allow any idea that does not have the support of the people to be put in place or experimented in this country. Therefore, it would be truly good politics if PPP and other political entities would believe in the rule of law and respect the will of the people. It must move forward and snub this idea of General Musharraf in which he has demanded a constitutional role for the army. Most probably, the General had the Turkish model in his mind where a retired general becomes the President of his country for four years. Since there is no constitutional provision for any such role for the army in Pakistan, all the political forces, who believe that democracy is the best form of government for this country, are expected to raise their voice against this idea before it spreads like a virus. One hopes that Musharraf, if he is indeed serious about participating in the political affairs of the country, would try to learn his lessons and refrain from advancing any fancy ideas or proposals that do not have the support of the Constitution. Meanwhile, if the General expects that he will receive any support from the people of Pakistan then he needs to re-establish his credentials because his performance till today after the formation of his political party has not been very encouraging. Musharraf must understand that his present policy of appeasing the Americans or the Indians will not help him establish a foothold in the political arena of Pakistan. The former President must also learn the lesson of how to be polite and decent even when his political adversaries cross the red line. Otherwise, no one will take him as a serious politician, who has only one chance and that is none. The writer is a freelance columnist. Email: zarnatta@hotmail.com