The phenomenon of authoritarian and autocratic military rule has been a characteristic feature of the political system in Pakistan. In fact, there exists a certain mindset in the country that has supported and given rise to this phenomenon. In order to bury this phenomenon once and for all, we should try to change this mindset rather than change an individual only. In Pakistan, political opportunism shown by some politicians, by inviting military intervention, especially from the opposition parties and the doctrine of necessity devised and applied by the superior judiciary have been instrumental in developing this phenomenon. On the other hand, such military coups have hardly faced any significant resistance or criticism from any section of the society in the country. Instead, some people have welcomed such military dictators. The extra-constitutional steps taken by the General (R) Pervaz Musharraf on October 12, 1999 constituted the principal act that resulted in the suspension of the constitution, removal of the elected governments at the federal and provincial level, dissolution of parliament and provincial assemblies and making superior judiciary to take oath under the PCO. Regrettably, this act was validated by the superior judiciary and the indemnified by the rubber-stamp parliament subsequently. In fact, the act of imposition of the emergency on November 3, 2007 was not the primary but a secondary and consequential act in nature, like many other illegal and controversial acts, of ex-president Musharraf e.g. the Lal Masjid operation, killing of Nawab Akber Bugti and the alleged murder of Benazir Bhutto. Had this stubborn ‘bull’ been taken by the horn on October 12, 1999, it would not have caused the destruction and damage in the ‘china shop’ on November 3, 2007.Now, the federal government has formally announced trying ex-president Musharraf under Article 6 of the constitution, on the basis of the act of imposition of emergency on November 3, 2007. As this trial has a great symbolic value to check further such extra-constitutional steps by the individuals, therefore, the proposed trial should be initiated on the basis of the incident of October 12, 1999 instead of November 3, 2007. Before it, the federal government should constitute an independent inquiry commission to thoroughly probe the various aspects of this incident so as to ascertain the real facts and fix the responsibility on the individuals. On the basis of the report of inquiry commission, the parliament should take decision regarding the trial of all such individuals. Therefore, only a comprehensive, meaningful and purposeful trial, under Article 6 of the constitution, can deter all like-minded from repeating such extra-constitutional acts in future. MOHSIN RAZA MALIK, Lahore, June 30.