KARACHI:
Former president and army chief Pervez Musharraf has accepted that his party is not well prepared and he felt a strong blow to his strategy due to this situation. Speaking to Shazaib Khanzada on Express News in his first TV interview after returning home, he said that there was little time left to process nomination papers.
“My strategy was that I shall come back to Pakistan, give momentum to the people, draw them and then select suitable candidates for different constituencies, but my party is handicapped and, therefore, all has gone into reverse order’. Now we shall ask the people we know to submit their nomination papers and then ask the public to vote for them.
He admitted that he cannot expect his party to perform well in the upcoming elections as Nawaz’s party did in 2008 when he (Nawaz) had returned from exile. “There are two major differences between PML-N and my party; theirs is decades old while I just made mine in 2010 which is only two-and-a half years back. People do not know many people of my party except for myself and I also do not know people enough at grass-root level to give tickets.”
The Pakistani government has failed to improve relations with any country, nor used its status as a frontline state. Pakistan can benefit from its geopolitical and strategic situation. We are located in the centre of Gulf, Middle East, Iran, Afghanistan and north east China and they cannot avoid us on economic grounds.
We should handle terrorism effectively for terrorist outfits are getting stronger in Afghanistan, KP, Punjab and Karachi.
He said that he did not receive a call from Kiyani on his arrival and avoided offering any comments on his expectations from the army chief.
He advised Imran Khan to be clear about his aim and then stick to it. He said that he met Jumaima Khan but has not sent any message to Imran Khan through her. She was in my favor till 2002 and she may be still.
He said that he was considering contesting from three to four constituencies, which includes Chitral where he has sent his nomination papers. When referred to implementing articles 62 and 63 in his case, he said, “In letter and spirit, I am the only electable person.”
He said that he enjoys good relations with MQM and had told Nawaz Sharif, when he was PM that MQM was a reality and that he should make a political deal with them and thus improve law and order in Karachi.
He refuted that he had used any diplomatic pressure to arrange a meeting with Nawaz which was turned down. He said that Pakistan should not have any confrontation with the Gulf or Saudi Arabia and evade any sanctions through diplomacy and action.
(Translated By Arshad Shaheen)
Published in The Express Tribune, March 28th, 2013.
we will make every effort for APML to overcome on this issue.
Also, being the new Generation of Pakistan, it is our responsibility to ask people, friends, relatives, to come on election day and vote.
If each one of us stand by a road, taking half minute of passer by people telling them the importance of the vote, and voting for the right candidate, imagine how big service it will be for the nation and our future generations.
This guy is really Optimistic-Realistic.
Not enough boots this time and pumping economic bubbles doesn’t work in succession.
Indeed it will be a rough ride but he has the courage.
Grapes are sour, Mr Musharraf!
Gen. Musharraf a has been ….
…………your million pound London appartment awaits you.
Musharraf claimed to have come to save Pakistan But did not disclose how to achieve it . He probably assumed that he will be able to share power in the national Assembly to be a part of coalition through his party APML .However he started signalling to surrender with excuse that his party is not well prepared for the election . So it t appears that he has to first save himself ( from court cases alleging to have violated constitution and . also the charges of toppling elected government which is treason )
The ET anchor should have asked Musharraf does he believe in democracy a better set up for Pakistan? ( even though he ants to contest election)
Prepared or not – eyes have turned to you to restore our Quaid’s Pakistan. People of Pakistan know you and have full confidence in you. The nation will accept nominiees irrespective of who they are, as long as your backing, guidance and support is there! Earnestly looking forward to seeing you as the Chief Executive of Pakistan!
Dear Musharraf you have sincere people behind you. Allah is with you and protecting you from all evils. Inshallah APML will perform well.
One of those who will be prepared to sell his mother, because she publicly favoured her other son.
Rex Minor
So he is trying to say is that if you don’t do a political deal with MQM then there will be a law and order problem in Karachi. I feel sorry for him over this statement as I didnt expect that from him.
I salute to his courage
The most honest person in Pakistani politics. Who else has the courage to accept his mistakes on live tv (his farewell address), who else has the courage to ask for forgiveness for his mistakes, who else has the courage to be frank and humble about his position.
Pakistan deserves to have a honest leader like you. Geo Musharraf! Maybe Parlimentary govt doesn’t suit you well, I wish you had pushed for Presidential set up (post Zardari, somehow :P)
I am agreeing with one of the statement from Mr. Pervev Musharraf “Pakistan can benefit from its geopolitical and strategic situation. We are located in the centre of Gulf, Middle East, Iran, Afghanistan and north east China”. It could include India and Far East Asia as well if we had Bangladesh as partner.
We lost half of the country 40 years ago, an other half is ready to breakup and yet we are not believing that we are sitting on gold mine, But don’t know how to dig. Personal and regional vendetta and revenges is dividing and breaking up this nation
Mosiqar
He admitted that he cannot expect his party to perform well in the upcoming elections
Realised very soon…
You got nearly ten years to deliver, the army was with you, establishment was under your thumb and you did not deliver. One the point that you were able to bring peace in Karachi is also a false statement. The peace in Karachi was artificial, you gave one party whole and sole power in the city and no one else dared to interfere. You were not able to uproot the causes of unrest in Karachi i.e. level of arms and ammunition armed wings of political parties have in Karachi, the issues of land, drug and bhatta mafia in Karachi
You know that you have no chance of even winning a seat in this election, you and few others who have come out of self imposed exile are sitting and waiting to be brought in power from backdoors.
@Kinky:
Sitting in a bunkered house for last five days, not able to address even a rally, was not even able to file his nomination papers himself, addressing the nation over facebook, cannot see courage anywhere!!!
@Mika:
Cannot agree more!!!
The best strategy for now could be:to nominate as many candidates as possible for varIous assemblys and then run a vigorous election campaign.About a months campaign could create desired momentum.
“In letter and spirit, I am the only electable person.”
True … The Legend is Back In Town
@Adnan
I can’t believe your ignorance. He had 10 years and he delivered in the time unlike Nawaz Sharif or Zardari. Compare these 5 years and Nawaz sharif’s time to Musharraf. No sane neutral observer would disagree that musharraf’s time was worse. Be neutral and see who has done what. The Lyari gangs and arms licenses gifted by Mirza to criminals and the political corrupt appointments in police at unprecedented scale are causes for karachi violence and all this came during the last 5 years.
Supporting him or not is your political decision and right but have the guts to be honest with yourself and judge when was Pakistan progressing and better. Don’t live a lie at least because it is people like you who either live a lie being hypocrites or have such huge egos or so much hate that their eyes are blinded by Allah.
We Pakistanis sadly have to vote for the least bad.
@Muneer:
i agree..not all is lost yet. if people wake up and remember how good things were in 2007 before he left they will hopefully get out and vote for any of the APML candidates. that said, we also cannot rule out what will happen in the next year or so. a supposed coalition of PPP, N-league, ANP, MQM and other smaller parties could very well win again in center. PTI will likely win in KP and punjab but still be in coalition. this will result in a hung parliament, which possibly will not last for more than a year. at that time musharraf can try to bolster his party fortunes and go for a bigger stake.
@Muneer: yes he can do it but we the supporters have to make agree people that he deserves it bcoz people r tired enough to think who is right
At least Gen. Musharraf is deadly honest. That is called a Realistic approach, unlike some others who have been idealistic for the past few years.
APML will take time to grow in to a political force. In fact, opportunists will need to be screened from the party. Try your best Gen. sahab, leave the rest to God. May you succeed!
@hamza khan: I think we should just charge Musharraf with treason for toppling the elected government; All of the challenges faced by Pakistan now are due to his mismanagement; Imagine how good Pakistan would have been had he not taken over with the army. His dictatorship caused the Bugti problem, Lal Masjid, worsened electricty situation and lawlessness everywhere. By the way, an army man taking a gun to parliament and taking over from unarmed civilians is hardly the work of a brave commando. It sounds more like cowardly to me. And then hiding overseas for 5 years, I am shocked that people would even listen to this dictator after all the damage he did to Pakistan!
@Rex Minor: 2 days in a row I am able to with a comment of yours!
@Effendi: “At least Gen. Musharraf is deadly honest. That is called a Realistic approach, unlike some others who have been idealistic for the past few years.”
Musharraf claimed to have come to save Pakistan ( means none other who are in the fray including PTI / IK are honest to save Pakistan) . No body dared to ask him how is he going to achieve it ( able to rule Pakistan ) in democratic set up ?
Mr. Effendi – Hoe did you rate the honesty of Musharraf in claiming to save Pakistan? Honest or a political statemnt to play with the sentiments of Pakistani people/ supporters?
The attitudes of the establishment and PPPP regards to MQM is the reason he said the MQM is a reality and not a myth that people of other province may imagine to be. MQM is a Political Party just like PMLN, PMLQ, JUIF, ANP, and PPPP but with a devoted party member not like turncoats like who sign in and out of party like gym members at NY Sports Club.
go back sir ASAP, Pakistan is not a safe place for you –