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			<title>Musharraf’s rally: Mixed crowd shows up for ex-president</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/318616/musharraf%e2%80%99s-rally-mixed-crowd-shows-up-for-ex-president</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/318616/musharraf%e2%80%99s-rally-mixed-crowd-shows-up-for-ex-president#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 08 Jan 12 21:41:12 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[rabia.ali]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[People from rural Sindh outnumber Karachi residents at APML’s event at the ground by Quaid-e-Azam’s mazaar.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The time for Pervez Musharraf’s rally was 1pm. But even after four hours, the All Pakistan Muslim League’s claim that a sea of people would sweep to Mazaar-e-Quaid fell just as flat as the dusty ground where it was organised.


About 10,000 chairs were set up by the decorators and journalists estimated that between 7,000 and 8,000 people turned up, drawing immediate comparisons with the mammoth crowd summoned by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf just weeks earlier at the same spot.

If members of the APML noted this, they certainly didn’t let on and in fact kept mentioning the word millions in their speeches. Shama Roomi, the general secretary of the women’s wing in Sindh, confidently chirped, “This rally will be bigger than Imran Khan’s.”

What stood out more than the numbers, however, was the fact that people from the villages and cities of Sindh turned up rather than people actually from Karachi. Most of them roamed around, clutching the party’s green flags with an image of Pervez Musharraf, Mohammad Ali Jinnah and an eagle. The fact that more people came from the countryside seemed to ruffle the APML’s Karachi division that accused them of “taking over the event”. For a while they decided to boycott their own party and stand at the reception. “We have been working so hard for the rally. But the event has been hijacked by Punjab sardars and Sindh’s waderas,” cribbed the party’s Karachi general secretary Ali Asghar Swati, after getting up on a chair to address workers. “They are not letting us go on stage.” This prompted some men to shout, ‘Give Karachi people their rights’, before a scuffle broke out.

“Haris Nawaz, the secretary general, has posted people from Sindh as security volunteers,” said one worker. “They have guns and are threatening to kill us. The Karachi division was in charge before the men hijacked it.”

But their cries fell on deaf ears, and more and more buses from the countryside kept rolling up. Ajrak-clad passengers streamed out to make it to the dummy walk-through security gates in the single-digit temperatures.

Out on the road since 4am was Muhammad Umer from Thatta, who said he came to the rally because his leader Ghulam Mustafa Khaskheli, the APML’s coordinator in Sindh, had invited them. After a little coaxing to open up, he blurted out why he was actually there: “They have given us a lot,” he said, “one thousand rupees per person.” But as soon as these words were out, men from his group pounced on him. “No one has forced us or given us anything,” clarified one man hastily. “We only got biryani on the bus.” But all of them agreed that Khaskheli was why they had come. “We support Musharraf because Khaskheli supports him,” said Maula Bux from Thatta.

In the main area, a massive two-floor stage was set up with a huge LCD screen in the middle with the top leadership slouched on the couches by the side. A huge sound system blared songs praising the former president as men showed off their dance moves and girls clapped and cheered. Zainab from DHA College declared: “I will vote for him. I saw banners across the city and that’s why I came. He is the only one who will save us.”

Watching the crowd dance was Mrs Rizwan Khan, who was the director general of the Press Information Department during Musharraf’s era. “After 9/11, it was a difficult time for Pakistan. But being a great leader, Musharraf handled it well,” she said. “That’s why we are here to support him.”

A number of Bengalis and Biharis from Orangi Town also came to the event. Mushtaq said that his group, the Bengali Ittehad, had offered its support. From Gulistan-e-Jauhar came Syed Imran who brought his elderly mother and two children as he felt that only Musharraf could make a difference.

He did add, however that the murder of Akbar Bugti and the Lal Masjid episode were still fresh in people’s memories and could prove a hurdle to Musharraf’s popularity.

Others chose to mock PTI chief Imran Khan. Young Zeeshan from Gulshan said, “Imran Khan is only interested in politics. Musharraf’s cause is only to save the country.” Another participant felt that they had only a week to organise the event while Imran Khan had a month to organise his rally.

Unlike at recent political rallies, Naeem Abbas Rufi was the only one singer present to entertain.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Karachi rally: Musharraf to defy threats, return home this month</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/318380/apml-rally-50000-empty-seats</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/318380/apml-rally-50000-empty-seats#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 08 Jan 12 14:30:25 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[rabia.ali]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[APML chief says he will fly in to Karachi between January 27 and 30.]]>
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				<![CDATA[As political fervor whips up across the country, the former dictator has decided to jump in, head first.

Clad in a crisp white shalwar kameez, former president and chairman All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Pervez Musharraf announced he would return to Pakistan between January 27 and 30, despite ‘baseless’ court cases, and risks to his life.

The announcement was synchronised with red and green fireworks, and chants of ‘welcome’ in the Mazar-e-Quaid neighbourhood.

“I am coming to Pakistan not for myself, but to bring happiness to the masses and solidarity to the country,” Musharraf said, while addressing the APML rally on Sunday through video conferencing.

Speaking from Dubai to a crowd of between 6,000 to 10,000 people, Musharraf said his rally is not a tsunami, but an “earthquake which would affect Pakistan’s politics.”

The former president said that some politicians say he has already had his time, and should not return.

“During my innings, I have scored a century. I know how to run this country more than anyone,” he said, adding: “Then there are those who have not even played their innings. I want to tell them that they should think twice before confronting me.”

Dictator’s diatribe

The former president, who ruled for eight years, compared his regime with the present-day situation. During my time, people had jobs, trains were functional, Pakistan was safe from IMF’s clutches and there was a reverse brain-drain, with expats returning to Pakistan to settle down, he said.

“But today, Pakistan is on the brink of destruction,” he proclaimed before embarking on a tirade: “Prices of essential items have increased three-fold, people are selling their children to run their houses, electricity and gas, apart from being unavailable, is expensive; trains have derailed and PIA is grounded, the economy has plunged while terrorism and extremism are on the rise, and people have no hope for a bright future.”

Reaching out

Musharraf addressed various ethnic communities, and lent his support to the Bengalis, saying that they should be considered citizens of the country, and given their identity cards and passports.

He reminded the Kashmiris of the foreign aid he solicited for them after the 2005 earthquake, and wooed the Hazaras by saying that he was always in favor of a separate Hazara province.

Musharraf said he would fight from the Chitral constituency in the next elections.

Referring to Nawab Akhbar Bugti’s murder, Musharraf said some politicians are visiting Balochistan and conspiring against him.

People say I am an enemy of the Baloch, but during my eight years, no one did more for the province than I did, he claimed, adding that he brought immense progress to the Marri and Bugti tribes.

He added, though: “I will always be an enemy of those who are against Pakistan, who burn its flag and who are killing Punjabis and Hazara.”

The rally was addressed by a host of other party leaders before Musharraf.

APML secretary general Haris Nawaz, who was criticised by the party’s Karachi division for hijacking the event, said “the party would give all people their rights.”

Salma Murad, wife of actor Waheed Murad, said the people ‘need’ Musharraf. Also in attendance was Gholam Mujtaba, famous for his ubiquitous billboards across Karachi, who said that people coming from Sukkur and Khairpur for the rally has proven that the former president is popular everywhere.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Rallying ahead: SHC allows APML to go ahead with its rally</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/317810/rallying-ahead-shc-allows-apml-to-go-ahead-with-its-rally</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/317810/rallying-ahead-shc-allows-apml-to-go-ahead-with-its-rally#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 07 Jan 12 02:27:16 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=317810</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Pervez Musharraf-led party event scheduled for January 8.]]>
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				<![CDATA[A division bench of the High Court of Sindh (SHC) has allowed the Pervez Musharraf-led All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) to hold its rally, scheduled for January 8.

Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Salman Hamid passed the order on Friday. A petition was filed by APML Secretary General Haris Nawaz, naming the Sindh home secretary and Karachi commissioner as respondents. It asked the court to direct the home department and other authorities to allow the APML to hold its rally in the Shahrah-e-Quaideen area.

The petitioner said that APML applied for permission on December 22 and had not received a response, even though only a few days were left for the scheduled rally.

The bench heard arguments by Siddique Mirza advocate, the counsel for the petitioner, Additional Advocate General Saifullah and Abdul Waheed Kanju advocate, the counsel for the Quaid-e-Azam Mazar Management Board.

The respondents opposed the petition, pleading the importance of maintaining the sanctity of Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum. But the bench referred to the order passed by another petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the terms and conditions under which the party was allowed to hold its rally at the same site on December 25.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>APML files petition asking for permission for Musharraf’s rally</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/316715/apml-files-petition-asking-for-permission-for-musharraf%e2%80%99s-rally</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/316715/apml-files-petition-asking-for-permission-for-musharraf%e2%80%99s-rally#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 12 20:37:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=316715</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The party’s event is scheduled for January 8.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), led by former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, filed a petition in the High Court of Sindh (SHC) on Wednesday in connection with its January 8 rally. The APML is asking the court to direct the home department and other authorities to give the party permission for holding the event at the Shahrae Quaideen area.


APML secretary general Haris Nawaz filed the petition and named the Sindh home secretary and Karachi commissioner as respondents.

Nawaz said that the party applied for permission on December 22 and has not received a response. He also referred to the fact that it would be discrimination to not allow APML to hold its event, given that other political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the Jamaat-e-Islami, were allowed to hold rallies in Karachi recently. He asked the court to direct the authorities to allow the party to hold its event at the designated place identified in its formal application.

The respondents were issued notices for January 6.

The former president has been declared an absconder in the murder case of the former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto. A trial court in Rawalpindi has issued a ‘perpetual warrant of arrest’ against him in the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>APML jalsa: Musharraf to announce return on Jan 8</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/315263/apml-jalsa-musharraf-to-announce-return-on-jan-8</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/315263/apml-jalsa-musharraf-to-announce-return-on-jan-8#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 01 Jan 12 20:28:59 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=315263</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The party members have started campaigning and are going all out with banners and party flags.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Preparations for the All Pakistan Muslim League’s (APML) jalsa on January 8 are in full swing. The party members have started campaigning and are going all out with banners and party flags. APML chief organiser Ghulam Rasool Unar said that they had asked for the home department for approval of the jalsa. He said that they were waiting for the government’s approval and they would take the matter up in court if the government refused to cooperate. “The government gave permission to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf,” he said. “It is our right and there is nothing wrong in giving us the permission to hold our rally.” Unar said that the APML leader should be back by the end of the month and the exact date of his arrival would be announced on January 8.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd,  2012.]]>
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			<title>APML Jalsa: We are nothing without Pakistan says Musharraf</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/311514/apml-jalsa-we-are-nothing-without-pakistan-says-musharraf</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/311514/apml-jalsa-we-are-nothing-without-pakistan-says-musharraf#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 24 Dec 11 22:41:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=311514</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Musharraf says his government helped the people of Sindh.]]>
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				<![CDATA[We have to think about Pakistan first, said former president Pervez Musharraf while expressing his concerns over the lawlessness, unemployment and inflation in the country. “We are nothing without our country.” He added that most of the national institutions in the country were on the brink of disaster.


While addressing a public meeting via telephone at Airport Road on Saturday, he said that the country was being threatened but the government was busy defaming the army and intelligence agencies.

He said that he wanted to remind Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief Nawaz Sharif and Sardar Attaullah Mengal that the jawans joined the army from all four provinces, not just Punjab. He asked Sharif not to politicise the army.

“We have to stand united and save Pakistan,” he said. “We will have to struggle and try hard to for development and prosperity.”

He added that he will be back in Pakistan in January 2012.

Sukkur barrage and floods

While commenting on the Sukkur barrage, he said that years of floods and neglect had made the barrage vulnerable.

He added that in 2005 and 2006 he had spent millions repairing the damage. “The people of Sindh should be thankful to the army for saving their barrage,” he said. “The Right Bank Outfall Drain was bringing in poisonous water from Punjab and Balochistan and releasing it in Manchaar Lake.

He added that this was causing severe damage and his government had tried to remedy the situation but did not have the funds to complete the project.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Rally safety: APML rally secured, Difa-i-Pakistan left to volunteers</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/308538/rally-safety-apml-rally-secured-difa-i-pakistan-left-to-volunteers</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/308538/rally-safety-apml-rally-secured-difa-i-pakistan-left-to-volunteers#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 18 Dec 11 22:11:08 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[200 constables and 10 snipers deployed around Nasser Bagh, 500 wardens deployed on roads leading to Minar-i-Pakistan.]]>
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				<![CDATA[While the police blocked off roads and searched people heading to the All Pakistan Muslim League rally leading to Nasser Bagh, security at Minar-i-Pakistan for the Difa-i-Pakistan Conference was mostly left to volunteers on Sunday.


Eighty two wardens were deployed at the roads leading to Nasser Bagh to block traffic. Civil Lines Superintendent of Police (SP) Umer Saeed said that 200 constables and 10 snipers had been deployed around Nasser Bagh.

Meanwhile, around 500 wardens were deployed on roads leading to Minar-i-Pakistan to maintain traffic flow. Some 150 volunteers were left largely in charge of security.

There were scuffles at the Ravi toll plaza, with many vehicles heading for Minar-i-Pakistan refusing to pay the toll, said police officials. They said that they did not intervene for fear of making the situation worse.

City Traffic SP Mustafa Hameed said that there were no major jams despite the added traffic for the rally because it was a Sunday. He said that no roads leading to Minar-i-Pakistan were blocked.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Return policy: Musharraf to address on Sunday</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/294179/return-policy-musharraf-to-address-on-sunday</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/294179/return-policy-musharraf-to-address-on-sunday#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 18 Nov 11 21:49:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Speaking at a press conference on Friday, he said 20,000 people are expected at the rally.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) will organise a rally on November 20 which will be addressed by the party’s chief, former President Pervez Musharraf, said APML’s central vice-president Brigadier (Retd) Haris Nawaz.  Speaking at a press conference on Friday, he said 20,000 people are expected at the rally. “The rally is a part of paving the way for Musharraf’s return, by end of March 2012,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19th,  2011.]]>
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			<title>APML rally: Musharraf backtracks on return plans</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/151257/i-am-not-afraid-of-returning-to-pakistan-musharraf</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/151257/i-am-not-afraid-of-returning-to-pakistan-musharraf#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 Apr 11 03:45:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[abdul.manan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=151257</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Musharraf says he will come back only if his party is successful in a ‘show of strength’.]]>
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				<![CDATA[In an apparent backtracking from his party’s earlier stance, former President Pervez Musharraf has linked his return to Pakistan to the level of support his political party, the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), is able to muster.


The statement is in contrast to what a party spokesperson said on Friday when he announced that Musharraf would be returning to Pakistan by the end of the year, without giving any qualifying conditions for the return.

The former president was addressing a rally of APML workers in Lahore on Sunday and laid out the party’s three-stage strategy for making headway in national politics.

In the first stage, said Musharraf, the party would create liaison committees at the district and provincial level. In the second stage, the party would decide to conduct a “show of strength” across the country. If the first two stages are successful, then the former president would make the decision to return to Pakistan.

In the third phase, Musharraf said he would lead the party in a campaign for the 2013 general elections. He claimed that the party would be able to win an absolute majority in the National Assembly, though he hinted that the party was open to alliances with other “like-minded” political parties.

APML leaders attended a rally in Lahore organised by the Karachi-based Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), in what many saw as the beginnings of a potential alliance. Musharraf had cordial relations with the MQM when he was president.

Musharraf denied rumours that he had been trying to meet Nawaz Sharif, who was in London for medical treatment.

“Nawaz used to give enmity in exchange of sympathies and I never expect anything good from him,” said the former president of the PML-N chief.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th,  2011.]]>
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