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APML chief says he will fly in to Karachi between January 27 and 30. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI: 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.
i mean hold your horses,,,, the crowd will start to arrive its SUNDAY. So chill !!
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I am surprised that some are still supporting a dictator that ripped the constitution to shreds and sent Pakistan hurtling into a web of fanaticism, lawlessness and chaos.
I would be surprised even if 1000 people show up but then party spokesmen have the tendency to add zeros!
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I think this news writer and this paper is fully paid by Nawaz group…..! speak truth life is short very soon you will meet Allah …….think of that too….!Recommend
If Pakistan to survive, he is our only hope! But I doubt that this nation want to survive since they have a death wish. We keep on talking about constitution, what if there is no Pakistan but we still holding on to constitution. Our problems started with the 73 parliamentary form of constitution otherwise we were economically progressing during presidential form of government with Ayub Khan.
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One TV channel owner told me that they are receiving instructions from ISI personnel to give the SAME level of coverage to Musharraf’s Jalsa in Karachi today as given to Imran Khans Jalsa – Naeem Ul Haque [Official] , PTI Sindh President
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For more details: go to https://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23APMLJalsi
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May be this should act as an eye opener for the Gentleman….may he now finally retire
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He should visit Garahi Khuda Baksh to learn what attracts people.
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@Ali
You seem to be comfortable with the corrupt leaders.
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Would it be enough for the general to open his eyes? He should return and be accountable for the massive blunders he did during his tenure.
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Yeah. u r right. Rally is on its way…… will take a few months to reach the venue as its coming from London and Dubai.
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He has not received any coverage. Thats why seats are empty.
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it seems that the political entity worst affected by PTI’s meteoric rise after Oct 30 was not PMLN or PPP but infact Musharraf. Let’s hope that this attendance today serves as an eye opener for the self acclaimed messiah.
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Haha…perhaps this will open Musharraf’s eyes:pRecommend
He should held a rally on facebook, maybe more people would have showed up there.
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@Asad Malik:
Yes and guess who allowed all of the criminals to come in through an NRO just to get a safe exit? If Musharraf was really such a proud Pakistani, he should have stayed and faced the courts and the consequences of his actions.
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A brutal eye-opener for Musharraf! But would he get the message?Recommend
Did Ateeqa Odho show up at least?:)Recommend
Mr. Musharaf, please leave us after handing over the Govt to your brother Mr Zardari and taking whole nation to turmoil
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MQM should help APML for the sake of their ex-darling/ex-dictator.
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General sb, kitney aadmi thay?:p
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@Khan Saab: graves attract people?
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Haha…I can’t wait to watch Hasb-e-Haal tonight. This is a Godsend for comedians.
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Just saying… the news should not be baised it is not india where MASALLA is essential for every news
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Are the guest speakers Netanyahu and Aunty Shamim?
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The only way for APML to attract crowd is to let Atiqa Odho deliver the speech, instead of Mushy.
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What works for the Pir of London Town does not necessarily have to work for Musharraf.
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Let this be a lesson to Mush. Hope he will stays away indefinitely. I don’t like Zardari but he is democratically elected and will go sooner or later. Military dictators have done far worse damage to the country and they are impossible to be rid of. And let’s not forget, without Mush there would have been no black law like NRO…and therefore no Zardari.Recommend
Glad to see Pakistani people may be sick of the current dispensation but they still have the sense to see through an ex-dictator whose blunders we are still paying for!
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If this is true, then I am proud to be a Karachiite…just as proud as the day hundreds of thousands turned up for Imran Khan. I am glad that the people know the difference. General Musharraf, please spare us.Recommend
@Hassan Bin Fahim: By that argument, the “agencies” are supporting both IK and Mush. Yet, 200,000 turned out for IK…no one has come out for Mush. Does that say something? Even accepting that IK has the “establishment” behind him…his support is genuine. The “establishment” cannot conjure up 200,000. If they could, they would have done the same for Mush!
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Without media coverage and establishment support he’s able to attract enough crowd, shows he’s a man of principles who want to bring real change in Pakistan.
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Perhaps, General Mush should have promised he would perform on the “tabla” or sing a few ghazals. Or maybe Ms. Odho could have prevailed upon her co-stars from “Humsafar” to make a guest appearance. Though in the latter case, there would have been a serious danger that those on the stage would have outnumbered the people at the “rally”:p General sb, the people have spoken. Now let them be!
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3000, you must be kidding
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I salute the people of Karachi. They showed their hunger for change on December 25th and they have shown they are nobody’s fools today. General sb, you are our painful history. Imran Khan is our future.Recommend
The wise people of Karachi have spoken: they want the kaptaan, not the general!
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If Pakistan were the US, late night comedians would be writing Musharraf thank-you letters right now because his “rally” would have given them enough material for a week’s worth of jokes:D
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yes he was the dictator but I just know that in his era economy, inflation and progress of Pakistan all were much satisfactory.
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They should have advertised it on Humsafar’s facebook page!….
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What a joke. I had a doubt that he might not have big support, now it’s confirmed.
PS: Might get 1 or 2 seats….may be
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General sb, you had nine years of absolute power. You were Pakistan’s president, chief executive and commander-in-chief all rolled into one. What could you do now as President or Prime Minister, assuming you even made it that far — and that’s a huge assumption — that you couldn’t do then? And remember, this time, there would be severe checks on your power, from the parliament, from the media, from your own party, from the judiciary, and, last but not least, from your former comrades-in-arms. Count your lucky stars, you are still alive. In any other country, you, and not Husain Haqqani, would be facing treason charges today. In the name of God, let it go and let us be! Mind you, I HATE Zardari!
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Long live Kaptaan, down with General.
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The world can be a strange and cruel place. A Kaptaan has shown a “General” how it’s done!
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The valued readers of Express Tribune should note that Musharraf will never come until PPP or any other democratically elected government will remain in Pakistan.
He is been forced by his APML party workers to come to the country but the question arises that the Court in Pakistan has declared his that he is an absconder and proclaimed offender and wanted in BB, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and Lal Masjid murders cases.
I have not seen any leader climbing the ladder again to reach at the top in just 4 years time, how can Musharraf want to again become President of Pakistan?
General Musharraf has already played his innings and his match is over once and for all.
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a jalsa of invisible silent majority.
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Without government funds, agency support – he has already enough gathering. He does not relies on patwaries or has to force school children to the jalsa.
Musharraf talks straight – he is not a hypocrite.
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As a former army man, I am stumped. People of Karachi want to be led by a captain instead of a general. What’s the world coming to?:p
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Even after nearly 4 years of PPP’s corruption and incompetence, the people clearly have no love lost for the dictator who gave us terrorism and the NRO (i.e. Zardari) as his “gifts”. Karachiites, take a bow! I am proud of you!Recommend
where is the awami taaqat he was referring to on May 12, 2007??
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Don’t know about others. But I will take a winning “Kaptaan” over a has-been “general” any day!
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I had heard about the “silent” majority but “invisible” majority is something new.
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@Asad Malik – Corrupt politicians steal from the country and probably leave it in shambles financially. Dictators twist and bend every rule to prolong their stay and to appease the ‘extremist’ elements that leaves the country in total shambles – morally, economically & politically. Ayub, Zia & Musharraf are prime testimony to this.
PS. Mushrraf also had his share of the booty. HBL, PTCL & KESC privatization can be deliberated and discussed to death and we would also not discuss Chak Shehzad mansion here.
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@observer: They are on facebook or catching “Humsafar” re-runs
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Alos read ‘How Musharraf became a billionare’ by Ansar Abbasi in The News’s today edition. Makes Zardari look holy and pious and Imran Khan a pauper.
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Though his times were better for economy and social welfare but that was short-term and not a permanent solution. Because corruption was lesser than current Govt. The time has moved on. Pakistan today, is not what it used to be in last 60 years. Awareness among people has increased manifolds. Whatever, good or bad must be elected through people. Things will only improve this way. dictatorship is no solution. May Allah bless our country. Amen.
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When Musharraf will be back in Country.. The Impact will be so different, surely.
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@Mohammad: Yes, exactly. He will be arrested on arrival. We all wait for that day!
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Atiqa should have requested “Ashar” and “Khirad” to come. That would have guaranteed the success of the jalsa. IK looks quite the hero himself but Mush needed some help…tsk, tsk!
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Even if 30 people showed up, it is a matter of shame for Pakistan. This man was a usurper and a dictator. Thanks to him, we have lost 30,000 people fighting an American war; thanks to his disastrous handling of the Lal Masjid affair, we saw an escalation in terrorism; thanks to his murder of Bugti, Balochistan is up in arms against Pakistan; thanks to his adventurism, we lost the moral high ground on Kashmir permanently; and, finally, thanks to his NRO, we have the corrupt government of the PPP.Recommend
I want the World Cup-winning captain, not the Kargil-losing general!
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Welcome back Musharraf! Any one with half a brain in Pakistan knows Musharraf is infinitely better than the rest. Today was a good beginning. Things will surely pick up when he returns.
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Can any one tell me at what Richter Scale the “Zalzala” would be coming to Karachi between 27 to 30 January 2012?
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thumbs up!!!
yes sir, we are with u…only leader who talks straight and is not hypocrite… nobody can raise finger on him for corruption. open media, real sense democracy are the gifts of musharraf!!!
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No doubt Musharraf is the best leader among the current slot. He will be in Pakistan this month to fight with the corrupt mafia. Heis getting strength every day. In Lahore 2,000 appeared, today if 10,000 then next time after his arrival may 100,000 and son on.Recommend
@mohsin:
You have no idea how creative the national accounting can be.
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Kaptaan’s prospective ally in a bad shape. General sahib, you ruled this country with the power of your “skin”.
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Dear Gen Musharraf
Thank you for the Kargil fiasco, where we looked like fools to the world and talk of our nuclear status has never ended since then and if v can be trusted with it. Thank you for the lovely way u handled AQ Khan issue in ur ‘commando’ brave style (lol!). Thank you for giving in to the US pressure on one phone call. Thank you for the American ingress into Pakistan. Thank you for not adding even a single MW to the grid. Thank you for not passing fuel increase to the ppl when oil prices went high – that led to the coffers being empty so the new govt wud start with IMF. Thank you for the poor way u handled Akbar Bugti and for setting on fire to Balochistan. Thank you for Q league created and backed by govt funds on ur behest. Thank you for May 12 karachi. Thank you for supporting the MQM. Thank you for keeping ur son abroad and for having a green card while being President COAS and etc. etc. Thank you for ur jokes when Benazir was assassinated am sure they went a long way for the federation. Thank you for NAB and NRO before that the latter being the logical conclusion to something as draconian as the former. Thank you for saying what u did in Canada about Pakistani women on the Dr. Shazia issue. Thank you for giving bases to the US for drone attacks. Thank you for involving the army in every petty little matter and tarnishing its image. Thank you for ur so called civil service reform or should i say deform? Thank you for publishing ur book on an official trip. Thank you for the present – Shaukat Aziz. Last but not least and i really mean this one thank you for running away and not daring to come back. We Salute u! Pakistan would not be where it is today without u! and Thank you for failing to get an NFC for 9 years! WOW! must be a record!
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i would suggest that return but with a one-way ticket….khamakha paisa zaya hoon ga.
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Musharraf’s six blunder Kargil war for USA to grab India.2.Unilateral cease fire in Kashmir under American pressure,why 79000 led their lives for the cause,all waste.3.Not building Kalabagh dam.4.Humiliated AQ Khan under American pressure and laid down drama.5 NRO for BB again under American dictate.6.Made local body system life less by placing civil police under DCO, politicians and crook bureaucrats got it done at last movement from him. Those who removed him are sending him again to bully Kayani,Zardari and Imran.mark my word drama of his arrest on arrival will take place to make him hero.Are we that innocent and goof.
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Musharraf and Those who broke the constitution whoever it maybe should be put put on trial. Those who manipulated the constitution allowing them to enter country under the protection of NRO should be tried. Those broke the constitution by misusing there status as elected leaders involving themselves in corruption, money laundering n eventually leaving the country under a “state organised deal” should also be tried in the court. This is true revolution!Recommend
Sorry general your time is up.
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Why PMLN dont talk bad about dictator Ziaulhaq. Nawaz Sharif is the product of Zia. They shud be ashamed of taking Zia sideRecommend
@Ali:
your obvioysly biased
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Very pathetic numbers…!
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What a fail show general sahaab. Save your self from humiliation. You are better off where you are.
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@Ali
Musharraf’s time for sure is coming. Look at faces of his opposition – they are already packing up. There is no room for corrupt leaders anymore.
Pakistan first.Recommend
If he couldnt fix the country in 8 years what makes him think he can change now?
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These claims of no-support for APML Karachi rally are baseless and stupid, i was there, as a part of the rally. I could easily count 50,000 attendants for Musharraf at the zenith of the rally’s morale at around 7:30 PM. I saw more than 800 buses starting from Gurumander to Numaish, Now for the maths, a bus can easily hold up-to 40 people, now multiply that with the number of buses and you got (40×800) 32000 attendants.
Now count the people who joined the rally on their bikes, personal cars, and coasters let’s say about uh… 10-15 thousand? judging by the parking space they took.
As for the people claiming PTI managed 200,000 that’s just plain stupid. the ground can’t hold that amount of people, There were about 30-40k a majority rallying from interior NWFP and Punjab. the attendances from Karachi made for only a fraction of that amount.
The Pakistani new channels are extremely biased about their coverage; PTI rally was the example of that, Their rally was exaggerated, Look it up in YouTube. it failed to claim 0.1m where they had support (People arrived from Interior NWFP, Punjab) (Security measures controlled by MQM), whereas MQM managed 50k without support (Lahore).
Sab say pehlay Pakistan! Jeeay Musharraf!
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When people talk of constitutional violation in Pakistan I want to laugh. There has been no constituion in pakistan ever. If there was a constituion there would have been digintiy for common man. Has there been rule of Law any time in Pakistan ?. Most of the writers on this page are from the ruling exploiting class of pakistan who would prefer to have so called demcracy/ Lootocracy even on the cost of dying common man because the rising prices does not affect them. We shoot on our feet before by Kufran e- naimat throwing Musharraf . Musharraf remains biggest hope for the poor people of pakistan.Recommend
Imran khan should be happy, another guy will be joining his party soon =) the team is well built by establishment n so r the settlements…..
God Save pakistan !!
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@Moiz Sididqui:
You actually counted 50000 supporters, & 800 buses? Now thats a stretch
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What a joke…… Stay in Dubai People of Pakistan need change not going to be fool again.
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Hello General, after reading the above comments I’m begging you not to come back. They don’t deserve you. Let these “boys” rot. You have no right to force them to go for develop and economic recovery. lol
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@Moiz Sididqui:
Your comment about media being biased is a gross understatement. I don’t know what these guys are upto. But it does make me worried about my homeland.
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@Moiz Sididqui:
Just look at the pictures above. You seriously think thats 50000? Because if thats true, than IK gathered 5million. Shameful to see people closing their eyes to the truth
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@Mohsin:
And he had power to amend constitution just by saying so conferred on him by pco judge IC.no civilian including mr jinnah had that power.
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@Aamer Khawaja: You’re judging by a picture and the guy says he was himself there. And you think you have a right to use an offensive word like shameful so liberally. Who out of the you two gentlemen should be shameful is anybody’s guess. Sorry, but you asked for it. Lol….. Khwaja saheb!
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We’ll await your arrival, say the people of Pakistan! Now don’t go on changing your mind at the last minute, commando.
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We still Love President Musharraf Want to see u back in power
Vision + honesty+hope+and confidence all i saw in his speach
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I guess the deep recession in Eurpoe and the US had no effect on Pakistan. Apparently, Musharaff like Bush lived in a dream world of huge debt which everyone in the world is not paying for. This dictator like the ones in Argentina, Brazil and Chile needs to pay for his crimes, hopefully he is tried and sent to prison for life
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Parvez Musharraf, please don’t come to Pakistan. These people do not deserve you. They are quite happy with the last 4 years of Zardari and by the plunder and loot by turn which went on before you came to office. ‘Baarey aaraam se haiN ahl-e-jafa “tairey” baad.’
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One media group, known for extreme opposition to Musharraf, reported 20,000 people. Gathering of this number without help of Patwaris, forced school children and government employees is quite enough to show Musharraf support.
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Altaf Hussain please listen where are you.
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Long Live Musharaff. Pakistani nation does not forget our benefactors. He lives in our hearts and minds
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Let us have another ‘referendum’. This time with 98.98% in favour.
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@Fatima:
His opponents will see real show of people when he will arrive in Karachi.
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10,000 people want NRO.
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It was the day of overwhelming joy and ecstasy for the nation, eager to see my favorite politician in K A R A C H I
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He is 68 years old now and would be no less than 80 by the time he gets a shot at the the presidency. I think he is 25 years too late for the job.
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Please dont land in Karachi… plzzzzz…. we dont want a May 12 Recap!!! Please go to Chitral, its your constituency… :(Recommend
@Eyes wide shut:
Oh im so sorry for using the o-so-offensive ‘s’ word. I hope you are feeling okay. It would be better if ET also publishes the age of people who comment btw so i can mind my language. Secondly if you think thats 50K people, then the ‘s’ word is useless, the problem actually lies elsewhere
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Musharaf come soon and save us from inefficient rulersRecommend
only he has a vision to change and paved the way of progress of pakistan and its people becasue his past proved that people progress with 8.0 gdp and industry/market was booming and people of pakistan was more happyRecommend
Musharraf is keeping my hopes alive about my country.
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@Imran:
complete nonsense…the NRO was an understanding with BB, and the corruption cases were not an invitation for the jaahil awam to elect the PPP. did musharraf also do that? laying the blame on his doorstep is fashionable, but not very smart.
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@Karachiwala:
wait till he returns…we’ll see who the country or the city by the sea wants. imran’s politics is appealing to 20 year olds. imran is in for a rude shock at the end of january.Recommend
Disappointed with tribune for giving headlines to a dictator, who is solemnly responsible for the current situation of Pakistan. How can one forget your obedience to US, selling your own land, Lal Masjid, Bugti Murder, Benazir Muder, economic meltdown.. and the 3rd of Nov? You should be ashamed of yourself for calling yourself a ‘saviour’ of Pakistan.
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Six to ten thousands attending his rally isn’t bad given his APML isn’t organized yet – you hardly ever see it covered by the media. Compare that with the video rallies by Altaf in his centre of power Karachi and the audience seem to be subdued. I’m sure there will be a lot more when he returns.Recommend
The present government has lost all credibility after the Memogate affair. There are shortages of essential goods in the country. The people are indeed suffering. Musharraf should come and take over.
If it happens will Zardari be sent back to jail or will he run away to a foreign country and enjoy his millionsRecommend
Well The General has managed to get the Pakistan visa approved by the Saudis and the US, I just wonder if he got multiple or single entry. interesting times ahead
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Is delighted. To see anti Musharraf people freaking out and making fun of his Jalsa. It’s good omen meaning he still can cause stir. The worst case scenario wouldve been no reaction or low reaction. Khush Aamdeed General. Care for a Cuban Cigar?
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Pakistan First!
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Khwajajee: Don’t be so touchy. ET is the only Pakistani
Paper that promotes an open discussion and encourages mutual respect and emotional intelligence. We don’t have to get emotional in expressing our divergent points of viewRecommend
Only Musharraf can take Pakistan forward
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@Aamer Khawaja: The original installation for the jalsa was supposed to serve 50,000 attendants (seats), and the fact that they were full is enough to support my claim.
Now for all these ignorant, Lal Masjid siege was because it threatened pakistani sovereignty, those fanatic preachers were making state within state, and provoking terror around the city.
And Pakistan economy stagnated? this is funny, lol.
I actually remember Petrol being as low as PKR 50/L and Diesel at PKR 25/L.
Every commodity was priced at-least 75% below compared to the rates today.
PKR had RESPECT, Now its one of the most degrading economy, A USD was worth only 60PKR now its 92PKR.
Stop being so ignorant, please.Recommend