Former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf has said that if he was in the position, he would give an extension to Director-General Inter-Services Intelligence Lt General Shuja Ahmad Pasha, saying he is an “able officer” and a “good man”. He, however, repeatedly refused to offer any comments on Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
Replying to a question by host Shahzeb Khanzada on “To The Point”, aired on Express News on Thursday, the former president praised Shuja Pasha as being an “intelligent officer, a straight talker and a person with a very upright character”. Musharraf, who is also the chief of the All Pakistan Muslim League, added that the DG ISI is “a good person as well”.
The APML chief was asked whether Kayani’s appointment as the COAS was part of the National Reconciliation Ordinance deal with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and whether it was true that Musharraf delayed Kayani’s promotion till he was compelled to fulfill his promise. However, the former president replied: “Absolutely wrong”.
He did, however, add: “It was Kayani who always accompanied me. I cannot confirm that Bhutto had a soft corner for Gen Kayani.”
Further asked about whether promoting Kayani was a good or bad decision, Musharraf said, “I shall say ‘no comments’”.
Yet, the former president strongly defended Shuja Pasha when it was pointed out his tenure is marked by events like the Mehran attack, the May 2 incident, and the attack on the General Headquarters. The DG ISI cannot keep a check on everything, was his reply.
The Mehran base and the GHQ are open places and anyone who is ready to risk his life to attack these places can do it, he said. “Even a child can jump over the wall of Mehran, you cannot blame the DG ISI for that.
“He does not have angels to keep him informed. He has unearthed 95% things, like terrorist acts, but nobody talks about them. He is running the organisation in a good way and has done well.”
Asked about the DG ISI’s frequent visits abroad, which came under scrutiny, Musharraf said, “The DG ISI does not have to seek permission like a child has to. He can meet people locally and internationally. If he is on a fact finding mission, it is justified even if it is against the prime minister.”
Asked again about Kayani and rumours that the army chief’s brothers are involved in corruption, he said that he cannot comment till he has proper information, but added that “the smoke suggests fire”.
“It is very sad that relatives of the people in leadership roles use their positions for corruption and plunder the wealth of this poor nation while nothing is done for the betterment of people,” he said.
Says he had forewarned Benazir Bhutto
Musharraf also said that Baitullah Mehsud was behind Bhutto’s murder but the actual point to be investigated is who approached him for it.
He said that after he received a foreign intelligence report that there was risk to Bhutto’s life, he had called her and informed her that “BB, if you do not trust our agencies, this a foreign report. There are suicide bombers around.”
Asked whether Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s claims that he wrote 14 letters to Musharraf for provision of security which was not provided to Bhutto were true, Musharraf said they were one of Malik’s “apple and banana” comments. He said as the then president, he was not into the details and that PPP jiyalas had taken over the security.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2012.
COMMENTS (29)
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@Abid: Absolutely! I agree with you 100%
musharaf is great leader. u mustly come back to country. v r waiting for u. Musharaf is not involved in murder of B.Bhutto. 80% peoples of pakistan said that he is not involved. its fact.
One thing I want to ask Musharraf Critics: There area a number of politicians who have left Musharraf Party including Fawad Chowdhry most recently
However no one has said anything bad about Musharraf and had their own reasons or blamed others in the party for their leaving > Per Fawad" Musharraf is too nice to be politician"
What that tells you about Musharraf. ?
,@Saleem: You obviously fall for all the propaganda from nawaz sharif and his cronies,there are no Pakistani leaders of musharrafs calibre, none of them are respected in the world,everyone knows about all the corrupt Pak leaders who care about only one thing which is personal wealth.The corrupt do their utmost best to malign and defame an honest leader who has not looted and plundered Pakistan,there are plenty of people who are led to believe garbage by the incompetent corrupt.There is no other Pak leader capable of giving speeches to institutions in the world and being paid huge amounts,no one wants to pay and hear the lost for words speech from the incompetent and corrupt.
Why such a big leader is running away from facing a court in Pakistan.
say whatever you want about mushy but numbers dont lie! during his time in power, the economy was doing great. since the past 4 years, our economy has been sinking! if this is what a civilian govt does then i prefer mushy anyday. yes he made some major mistakes but at least he did some good too which i havent seen yet from this impotent government
Thought Mr. Credibility was going to issue an arrest warrant for him?
Its is always easy to criticize other people, but not to have the courage to receive even positive critics. This is an unfortunate habit in all of us and thats why we are becoming as a nation. Why don't we do a self assessment for a moment and see what and how as an individual you are contributing to to do something positive even small things in your daily life. We always accuse generals, politicians, bureaucrats and landlords for not being loyalty to this nation. who are they? where do they come from? are they not our own people? you elected them to be your representatives and now you deserve to be reaping for what you sow. If we keep playing this blame game, we will become extinct one day.
@ salim I know which elite club he is a member of! We saw his performance in Kargil, and after a phone call from a US secretary of state.
Musharraf always had a way with words. If only he didnt buckle under US pressure, he couldve led Pakistan out of the impending abyss. His initial hardcore anti-corruption policies, when he took over speak for themselves.
There is no doubt that Gen.Musharaf is the best politician,much experienced ,matured,and loyal than rest of the craving for power and wealth politicians.His image overseas is far above sharifs and Zardaris.Domestically he is popular with middle and educated classes.But will find it hard to win an election for his party because election in Pakistan involves loads of money which party does not have,though he earns substantial dollars delivering lectures round the world. Economy,law and order,plus general welbeing of people during his tenure were better than what we see today.
@Naina Ali Siddiqui: Express news did a poll this evening. Question was: 'Do you believe Musharraf was involved in BB's killing. Only 15% said yes- 85% said a resounding NO!!!!
What are your biases?
@Saleem: For your information he is member of the elite club of higest paid speakers in the world. Speakers in this category net hundreds of thousands dollars per assignment.
No other politician can come any close.
Sir G! You should not have removed your uniform, not at all! Those who came on your way, you should have used your powers and put a danda into them. Now you have done your mistake, now that these good for themselves democracy champions have taken over our destiny, we ask you, use the army, the agencies or anything but plz come back, put IK in front nd your experience combined would bring laurels. We need this country saved, not a clause of a man made book!
Indeed Musharrf is a great leader.
@Naina Ali Siddiqui: Who do you think you are? ----what have you, some kind of sole properietary rights on the country or love and patriotism? You'll be surprised 'sweetheart' ----there are millions of Pakistanis like myself who are just as loyal to the country as yourself, may be more, and they like President Musharraf and his political views. Supporting President Musharraf's views and being a loyal Pakistani are not mutually exclusive, are they?
Where did musharraf get the money from to stay in an expensive area of London.
Musharaf is more experienced than Imran and his record shows the growth rate that Pakistan had during tenure. It is sad to say that Nawaz and BB both were kicked out due to corruption twice each. Zardari and his friends are not behind anyone in the league of corrupts.
we need Musharraf back in the country to get rid of these corrupt leadership Vote for musharraf
Generals keep on prasing each other .Thats their way of life .
@ Q,
I don't know who you are , but atleast not a Pakistani loyal to country.
Musharraf looks good man, he can do such great things but Now he doesn't have much courage to come to Pakistan because of some cases. I think the reason is that the Pakistani Govt is horrified from his personality and they are not willing to let him allow to come to Pakistan. I hope God will change the condition of Pakistan soon.
@Akhtar: May I humbly suggest you read Salim Shahzad's book which was published after his brutal murder. This respected journalist says that Lal Masjid was an 'Al Qeada clell'.
As for Afia Siddiqi please go through statements of her husband.
Saw the interview, thought Shehbaz Khanzada did a nice job of showing up Musharraf and left the viewer to draw the obvious conclusion.
Musharraf knows which side of the bread is buttered. Shamelessly transparent remarks, this guy is obvioiusly getting desperate.
Our Generals are all for self praise. All they can do is fight for others just like mercenaries. Give them Arms, Aid, they will allow anyone to attacks us, with drones $ Raymond davis. Even they themselves will send F-16's to bomb their own & disappearances like Dr. Aafia & many more, like Lal masjid.
Just don't ask them to fight wars or else they'll Lose them all like before. Our commandos are so brave that they'll not face the court. Salaams.
Great man.. Great Leader.. Geo Musharraf..