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Elections 2013: Weak support, police action mar Musharraf’s rally
‘APML did not have official permission’, according to security officials.
Pervez Musharraf was scheduled to make a video address to the party workers and supporters in Hyderabad. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
HYDERABAD: Confirming his return to Pakistan on March 23, 2012, former president Pervez Musharraf said he expects the people of Sindh to welcome him warmly when he lands in Pakistan.
The All Pakistan Muslim League’s (APML) chief said this while addressing a public rally in Sindh, which was marred by intervention by police officials in an alleged attempt to disperse the rally, via a telephonic conference on Sunday.
“I hope you will put up banners and posters of APML everywhere in Sindh,” said the former chief of army staff in a rally predominantly attended by the Khaskheli Rajooni Ittehad — community members of which gathered from Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Tharparkar, Tando Muhammad Khan and Tando Allahyar.
The rally was arranged in the Hatri area along the Hyderabad by-pass. Organisers claimed the participation was between 13,000 to 15,000 people — although what appeared to be seated were a few thousand on chairs and parked buses.
The Khaskheli community members took part in the precession predominantly on the call of the community’s President Sardar Ghulam Mustafa Khaskheli, who is APML’s coordinator in Sindh.
Khaskheli, who was the last one to speak before Musharraf’s telephonic address began, asked his people to keep sitting after many supporters started leaving when Khaskheli concluded his speech.
Intervention
Earlier in the day, police intervened and allegedly tried to stop the public meeting by throwing chairs on the ground.
Chalgri Town’s deputy DPO Irshad Nabi Bhutto said police officials had to intervene since organisers had not obtained official permission to hold the public rally.
However, Barrister Saif of the APML argued that an official permission to hold a rally or a public meeting was not a requirement unless section 144 is enforced in that particular city.
“Yesterday, the deputy commissioner of Hyderabad had assured us of all possible cooperation,” he claimed.
But later in the day, police backed off as people started flocking to the rally.
“I am proud of the participants who made it to the public meeting despite so many hurdles from far-flung areas,” said Musharraf. “Had the police not stopped our caravans coming from Tando Jam, Karachi and other places, the number would have been over 25,000 here.”
With regards to the police’s opposition, Musharraf reminded them that it was him who increased their salaries and gave them other perquisites too.
Musharraf then went on to compare his performance with that of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s rally in Faisalabad the same day.
He added that real democracy came to Pakistan only during his regime. “Without going into the details about the prevailing situation, I will only say that poor people are being crushed,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2011.
Reader Comments (24)
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Red warrants are issued against you Mr. Musharraf. We’ll make history to hang you infront of millions on Pakistani soil. We’ll deal you the way you dealt with Baloch leaders.
Come back to Pakistan and face trial if you really love Pakistan.Recommend
Musharraf should speak to his friends MQM before doing Jalsas in Urban Sindh, I am sure people like Wasan would never dare to disrupts his rally.
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“Tundiye Baade Mukhalif se ne ghabra ai uqab
Ye to chalti hai tujhe Ooncha urane ke liyye”
Pakistan First Musharraf Zinda bad
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@Kashif Iqbal:
Your fire brand statement looks good on paper only….Get real, just how many people of that stature have ever been tried and punished in Pakistan not to say there is any shortage of them. Well there is a long list before his turn comesas. Good luck
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My hero Musharraf. Love you Sir. Please come earlier than the scheduled date of 23 March. Pakistan first.
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LOVE AND SUPPORT HONORABLE PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, A REAL HOPE OF PAKISTAN NATION.
SUPPORT HIM. PAKISTAN FIRST.
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@abid mohiuddin:
Iqbal’s Aeronautical conepts are beyond Mush’s comprehension.
Of course it was “Pakistan First,” that he and his generals pushed into an abyss of “Stratagic Depth,” and then bailed out through golden parachute to his castle on Money Mountain.
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@Kashif Iqbal:
Ha Ha What a contradiction in your statement !!
In one breath you are challenging Musharraf to come to Pakistan if he loves Pakistan and in the same breath e threatening to hang him if he comes to Pakistan
He is our bold leader and he loves Pakistan and will come to Pakistan
“Tundiye Baade Mukhalif se ne ghabra ai uqab
Ye to chalti hai tujhe Ooncha urane ke liyye”
Pakistan First Musharraf Zinda badRecommend
@Dr. Who!:
Do not Forget his sign is an Eagle and he will prove that an eagle only eats his own pray
and Musharraf has only eaten and will only eat Rizq – e -Halal InshaAllah
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@Abid Mohiuddin: what is definition of Rizq-e-Halal for you ???
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Where is this guy getting money for all his adventures
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You got 9 years of unbridled power (whoever has got that in Pakistan’s history). Mismanaged it and turned the country into a suicide bomb factory. What else do you want now. Thank your stars you were not made a Gaddafi, or Mubarak. Spend your life praying and asking God for forgivance.
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:@ tariq : he is earning thousands of dollar by giving lectures at foriegn universities he is not among those leaders(not even deserved to be named) who spend their life from your taxes and by taking foriegn aid in the name of public for their pleasures.
:@Shahid: what did your current leadership gave you? roti? kapra? makkan?? dollar is now at 86, inflation highest, no gas, no petrol, no electricity, no investment. at least economy was satble at his time, i could see investment in our country.
Grow up! Talk with facts not with the opinions.
Though he made mistake he is also a human. He made mistake but he is not a traitor. he never went to jail like the other leader, he is educated and enlighted.Recommend
Musharraf zindabad. He is a true son of
This land. Who has taken 2 bullets for
Country who has gone deep into Indian land during 1965 war by which Pakistan did the land swap with India the one we lost to India. He doubled played west. He gave us JF17 thunder fighter jet. So we don’t have to beg West for F16s. He gave us Alkhalid1-2 tanks which are worlds best tanks. He gave us best submarines. He made Pakistan brick 11 country and Pakistan was the most best economy in 2006-07. Then beloved democratic forces came in ground along with PTI. Media started calling Talibans saheed and Army Jwans as murda. And Pakistan became terrorist hub and now same parties and media blame everything on Musharraf. It’s munafqat
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You want to make history by hanging Musharraf? Why so? What has your so-called ‘CHIEF JUSTICE’ done since he came back in power. You said he will come and save the country? And so goes for your democratic leaders. What’s wrong? Where’s everything gone? The funny part is that you still expect from Musharraf to DO SOMETHING. You can’t even get him back and you are pledging him to do so. Get real phonies!
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There is huge support for Pervez Musharraf in Pakistan. Despite propaganda and false court cases, intellectuals realise that Mush was the most sincere leader Pakistan had.
I would love to see him come back as President with Imran Khan as Prime Minister.
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Musharraf is the only great leader at present in Pakistan.all Pakistani patriotic ,honest, and real Muslim wants to see him as our leader.
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@Tariq:
adventures? speaking on a videoconference is an adventure? lets not forget he draws a pension from the army, he’s been speaking abroad for more than a year now (by some estiamtes close to one hundred thousand dollars per event). he’s very well off mashallah. president musharraf has always been very upfront about his assets. the reason imran khan is talking about declaration of assets is because of president musharraf. it was him in 1999 that instituted this policy, and immediately declared his own assets. so he has nothing to hide.
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Musharraf the best leader Pakistan ever had.
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@Mansour Ahmed:
inshallah he will return. the present lot of corrupt leaders who have come to fill their pockets and cost the country dearly have proven just how necessary patriotic leaders like musharraf are. people have spread propaganda and false rumors about him for too long. thank you for speaking the truth. i salute you!
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@Kashif Iqbal:
How about Hamid Gul who played havoc with democratic processes. He bribed our already corrupt politicians and created IJI. Excactly same done by Asad Durrani.
What about Faiz Ali Chisti who was cruel number two of the worst dictator Zia. He still lives enjoying the corruption which he did during his time.
Then how about the politician who fell out of Zia’s lap and who promised to fullfill his ‘mission’ 8 years after the crash that killed the ruthless dictator.
So?? But I believe they can’t be touched for obvious reasons.
Channel your hatred elsewhere. Musharraf was the greatest leader after Jinnah.
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Great leader.. looking forward to his return..
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@Shahid:
Your knowledge of history is poor. Mentor and godfather of the ‘Lion of Punjab’, Zia ul Haq (the most ruthless ruler) was in power for 11 years.
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Musharraf was and is the best leader after Quaid-e-Azam
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