‘Third force’: Musharraf vexed about Imran’s rise in politics

APML may consider an alliance with the crusading Khan’s party when the ex-president returns.


Zia Khan December 13, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


The rise of Imran Khan and his party Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) as an ‘alternative third force’ in mainstream politics isn’t sitting too well with former president Pervez Musharraf and his All Pakistan Muslim League (APML).


The ex-military strongman fears that the cricketing legend’s ‘dream run’ is diminishing his own chances of riding the crest of public anger against the conventional opposition parties.

Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan between 1999 and 2008, is contemplating offering Imran a ‘working relationship’ for a ‘minimum common agenda’ of defeating two major parties, his spokesperson said.

But, an official of Imran’s PTI said, there was ‘no way in hell’ Imran could have any informal relations or formal alliance with the dictator because he abrogated the constitution and there was ‘no room for him’ in Pakistan politics.

“Frankly, we are concerned about the rise of Imran … informal relations exist between us and of course when Musharraf comes back there can be an attempt at formalising them,” said a spokesperson for the former president and his All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Fawad Chaudhry.

The spokesperson went on to add that Musharraf, who had earlier announced to make a comeback to Pakistan on March 23 next year, was reconsidering his return plan and might be in the country before March 23.

“He will try to come back earlier for a couple of reasons. Of course, the prime reason being Imran’s unstoppable advance and secondly the uncertainty at the political front,” he said, adding that if there were to be snap elections in Pakistan, the party would be left out if Musharraf wasn’t in the country.

The spokesperson, however, hastened to play down what experts have termed a ‘surprise jump’ in Imran’s popularity, saying that Musharraf’s absence played a major role in the rise of Imran and his party into mainstream politics.

“Imran is flying high because Musharraf is not here … had he been here, things would have been altogether different,” he argued.

Chaudhry refused to elaborate on the dynamics of the ‘informal relations’ between the APML and PTI, but a spokesperson for the PTI said Imran was in no mood of either having Musharraf in his party or accepting an alliance with the dictator’s group.

“There is no way in hell Imran can accept Musharraf … there is no room for him in Pakistan’s politics. Like (President Asif Ali) Zardari and (PML-N chief) Nawaz Sharif, he will have to face the music,” said PTI Islamabad Information Secretary Sulaiman Malik.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2011.

COMMENTS (114)

Mohammad Anjarwala | 12 years ago | Reply

whether or not Gen Musharraf may have your support, everybody would agree on thing in common between Imran khan and Musharraf ... patriotism. Both wants to bring a change in Pakistan, both talk about engaging youth in politics who comprise of more then 50 percent of our population, IK recently has softened his stance on America and openly agreed on having good relations with the US. He has even met the ambassador if words are to be believed, ( stating this if somebody talks about their stance on American policies). Imran Khan is new in politics and Musharraf has gained good experience in 9 years of power. He has admitted his mistakes and apologized to the nation on his mistakes which is a bold step given that no body since the inception of Pakistan has done that. I strongly believe that IK and Musharraf's alliance would be very beneficial to Pakistan.

Shahid | 12 years ago | Reply

@rehmat Pakistan is perhaps the most difficult country to govern.Do you think Musharraf was alone to make decisions.He had to listen to all other generals and politicians.He would not have survived more than a few months had he not accomodated others. Even supposedly if Imran kahan comes to power he won't be able to last more than few months. He fhas already realised that and now moved away from his principled stand accepting all the lotas.What musharraf achieved under the circumstances is remarkable

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