Pervez Musharraf has arrest warrants issued against him. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The former president announced earlier that he would be returning to Pakistan on March 24.
Ishaque further said that the APML will contest the next elections without doing any seat adjustments with other political parties.
Last week, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Senator Mian Raza Rabbani said that Musharraf should be arrested as soon as he arrived in the country and be tried in the courts on treason charges, as ordained by a Senate resolution that was passed against him last year.
COMMENTS (62)
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And to all the attention seekers here complaining about how bad he is? You seriously need professional help!!! Youre not even safe at home let alone going out without fear... During his rule you could breath a little... This is exactly what I mean about ignorant people who don't know what they talk about.. And @maria please educate yourself he didn't do any damage it's people like you who are doing the damage..
For the love of the country and for what's good please vote for him no one and I repeat NO ONE can make Pakistan better than Musharraf you know why? Because he genuinely loves Pakistan. You see him defend the country and it's people after al that he went through?!? He made Pakistan a safer place to live in minorities too felt safe!!! But knowing our illiteracy rate we probably won't do what's right for this country... Sigh*
@Tera: Yes, I can tell you how he has made his money - through hard work. He is one of the most sought after speakers in the world and he is managed by the same organization that manages the likes of Bill Clinton and Colin Powell for speaking engagements. It is estimated that a single speaking engagement pays $70,000 plus on the circuit, and he makes many speeches each month. This is the way Bill Clinton also makes money. Musharraf does not have a single credible accusation of corruption, otherwise his enemies would not have hesitated to bring those into court by now. You may not want to believe it but he is CLEAN. Its not your fault, you are so accustomed to seeing all Pakistani politicians looting the country that it is hard for you to believe that there is one former president who is actually above the filth. As for the UK and Dubai houses you mention, they are 3-4 bedroom appartments, not mansions like some of the other ones have. Peace.
Can somebody please tell me how did he sustain a high standard of Living for the past four or five years that he has been in exile over in UK?
His house itself cost a Million Pounds or so.
If he was so sharif as you claim where did he get this kind of money to survive?
A true man with the VISION, only he understands PAKISTAN. LONG LIVE Musharaff.
@Mudi: It was the majority party voted in by the people. so if you have concerns then it should be with your fellow countrymen not him.
Anyone but pee,pee,pee! I think Mushraff is a good choice.
@Maria: Again, I think you are living in a make believe world that does not exist in Pakistan. I would love to see Pakistan when the constitution is held up by all, in letter and spirit. You are critical of Musharraf whose tenure was approved by the very same chief justice that is the guardian of the constitution now. There was a reason - and that was the constitution should help the people. Nawaz and Zardari that you support have blown the consitution to pieces in their time. Just the stamp of electoral victory is not enough. Lastly, you think Musharraf has no support. You have to look no further than this forum, and you'll see the vast majority that supports Musharraf. Go to any other Pakistani news media forum and you'll see the same. There is no question of support for him. The question is can he convert support for him into support for his party in such a short time. I am hopeful.
@Zee Paki in USA: The constitution is not a technicality. It's a shame that you live in the US and still haven't understood the concept of rule of law, constitution and judiciary. Musharraf's rule was 1000 times worse than any politician because it was illegal and undermined the state. He brought terrorism and lawlessness into Pakistan by showing people, guns are the way to settle issues - not by voting or protesting in a decent manner. In 10 years of rule, Musharraf antagonized Baluch, sold off the country for nothing, encouraged drone strikes on his people, sold citizens off for money, made no infrastructure improvements nor added 1 watt of electricty to the grid. In short he did nothing but bring instability. As a woman in North America, I remember feeling ashamed at the sighe of a army general representing my supposedly democratic country. And then this same general was trying to sell his biography on a state trip! And yes I would choose Zardari, Nawaz or any politician over someone who thinks so little of Pakistan and the constitution that he would take the army to the capital and take over. You'll see what his 80% popularity is if he lands in Pakistan ! - I suspect very few people will vote for him because he has become another tired figure from yesterday who has failed. And yes he has some support in Karachi but even there people can now understand the damage he did. Let democracy win in Pakistan is all I can say to people who want army generals to take over.
@cautious: You have your facts mixed up about Kargil. Kargil was Pakistan's success, that's why it was India who went to US for help. The US called Nawaz to Washington and put pressure on him and he succumbed. Don't read into Indian propaganda machine (unless you are Indian, then your statements are understandable).
@Maria: I think you are stuck on a technicality and technicalities sometimes don't work for Pakistan. Technically, yes no one should break the constitution. BUT when the elected gov't acts dictatorially, attacks the Supreme Court, makes a mockery of the military, loots the country dry, and the country is put into a failed nation state with no economy and defaulter, when the people are clamoring for the Army chief to take over, what was Musharraf to do? People rejoiced when he threw out Nawaz. AND in his tenure Pakistan was most stable (until the return of Benazir and Nawaz, whcih was a mistake he has admitted), thrived economically, and people felt safe. He held 80% popularity. He also tried to set democracy on the right footing with local elections and freedom of the press. So you still want 1997 Nawaz with the constitution intact? The constitution is for the protection of people, not the other way around. Take today's "constitutional gov't" for example. Are they following the letter and spirit of the constitution? No, they have given us nothing but corruption, violence, mismanagement, economic meltdown and political gymnastics which are not even legal. Is this what you want? Not the majority of us. Peace.
Zee Paki from USA
No one outside of Pakistan believes that Kargil was a military or political success. Further - it's well documented fact that Pakistan was on the ropes and asked Clinton to intervene on it's behalf to pressure India - Clinton refused to take any action until Pakistan had withdrawn all it's troops from India's territory. Try as you might you cannot re-write history and since you have access to a computer I suggest you read Wikipedia's account of the Kargil conflict.
In the presence of independent judiciary, Musharraf will land straight in jail on high treason charges under Article-6 of the Constitution.
Musharraf is a great leader in the history of Pakistan. He has done alot for Pakistan. He should be warmly welcomed. The things i like in musharraf are Kargil war HEC 1122 Road Structures Peace in Karachi Dollar stayed on 60 for 9years Stock exchange boom improved messile technology so so and soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, love u musharraf
Inshallah Musharraf will be accorded a historic welcome. Waiting for your Sir.
Musharraf is the time tested and trusted leader, he desreves for the huge welcome.
Eagerly waiting see Mr Musharraff being hanged publicly in Pakistan.
The only secular and brave leader who can put pakistan forward.
@Hasin Ahmed: And internationally the only leader with exceptional credibility. Besides he belongs to the elite club of highest paid speakers in the world.
On the political landscaoe of Pakistan, Musharraf has unmatchable leadership qualities.
welcome Musharraf our nation needs you for survival, otherwise we have no way other than destruction.
Brother & Sisters AOA, Yes, He is the best candidate for upcoming elections. Please support him & MQM should also provide their security to him upon his arrival. He knows how to run the country by the grace of Allah. He have respect in all country he has speech power & most importantly he knows what he is talking. May Allah support all of us & him to make this country safe & sound.
Musharraf indeed is the best leader Pakistan ever had. Under the current situation Musharraf is the best choice.
He is making another mistake.....
WE Are ALLLL Waiting for YOU SIR
Please SAVE US please we miss your golden era
@f:
hmmmm so why dont you go welcome zardari & nawaz sharif & JI hmmmmmm im sure they gave u alot
@Zohaib: What did we or U achieve with zardari & nawaz ?
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui:
Yes you may be right. If people of Pakistan prefer the same old politicians then he may not any choice but to go back to Dubai or London.
@Zohaib: Yes, we learned in the last 5 years that Musharraf tenure was 1000 times better. You had your chance for 5 years, now move over and clear the way. If not Musharraf then who will you support? Imran Khan? I support him also, but he isn't smart enough and only an alliance between him and Musharraf will work. They both need eachother.
@Next: Musharraf has admitted that NRO was a mistake - but he took the action on advice from the pro democracy politicians and frankly from the western countries (not just the USA) to allow Benazir and Nawaz back in. But who told the people to vote for PPP and PMLN? So if anyone is to blame it is the voters. I don't agree with your comments on Kargil. I think you have been reading too many Indian newspapers. Kargil was a military success, but made into a loss by Nawaz bowing to US pressure. So the real question now is will Pakistanis make the same mistake as in 2008 and vote for the looters and incompetents again, or will they vote for the only 2 real leaders. I will take Musharraf and Imran alliance over the current lot. What about you?
@f: You are right. Where are his warrant for arrest?
The empire of Musharraf was built on flouting the constitution of Pakistan and the mandate given by the people of Pakistan to PML(N). I can only smile at the naivety of people wanting to welcome him. Most likely he will end up in prison unless the caretaker government is propped by powers that be.
He had 10 years all to himself….10 years are enough to change the destiny of a country….what did he achieve? You people never learn…. @Zohaib:
could not agree more.
@f:
you need psychological help
How many arrest warrants are outstanding on him? I suspect the only way he will return to Pakistan is as head of another military takeover.
@Zee Paki in USA: I also want to see Musharraf accorded a historic welcome and be put in chains and taken immediately to jail for all the damage he did to Pakistan during his decade of incompetent rule which you forget was illegal! The historic arrest of Musharraf at the airport will show everyone that no one can take over the nation by abusing the army power!
@F when u say energy crisis you mean providing people a standard of living where they can afford tv aircon and drive up energy demand. Any day musharraf.. Amazing leader!
Yes he deserves a warm welcome for breaking constitution of Pakistan. Yes he deserves a warm welcome for going against call of Quaid e Azam (demoratic Pakistan) Yes he deserves a warm welcome for putting country in energy crises Yes he deserves a warm welcome for creating terrorism in Pakistan Yes he deserves a warm welcome for the life he wasted of soldiers in kargil operation. Yes he deserves a warm welcome for strengthening mafias in karachi
welcome welcome quaid e pakistan syed pervez musharraf love u
hahaha! count the votes - as many as comments on this piece in an english newspaper. He should eb arersted and tried for treason.
Musharraf as President with 'wardi' on was a powerful leader who did a lot of good things for the good of Pakistan. In the ensuing election if he wins election and even becomes President of Pakistan, he will be a tooth-less lion. He is doing a mistake by coming back in Pakistan. He is endangering his own person. People who are supporting him in Facebook will still be indoor while Musharraf will take big risk to his life in Pakistan.
Musharraf is a true leader who is inspirational and genuine intention for this country.
Sadly he made mistakes however he has the decency to admit them.
PPP and PML-N, after robbing, looting and mismanaging Pakistan have more than a few mistakes.. their entire tenure has been a tragedy for Pakistan.
Lets welcome him back with open arms.
@Zee Paki from USA: Yea right - I did NRO to welcome all the thieves correct? I wanted to be the king by throwing off a country's chief justice and then got embarrassed when the same CJ was reinstated. I over exercised my power to start Kargil operation and when got kicked in the rear by Indians, had to call back army. I wanted to sell off the steel mills. All the problems this country is facing are because of Musharraf. If he did all these by intent (NRO, CJ, Kargil, Dissolving Assemblies, Allowing Corruption) then he is a criminal. And if he didn't intend for all this to turn this way then I salute his poor vision. Go for the historic welcome for a historic shame! With people like you, can Pakistan take a step forward?
@Zeeshan: We don't need a politician...We need a leader! And Musharraf is certainly a leader...
@Mudi: Yeah and what about the people that elected the PPP? Funny how you don't want to take any responsibility and blame Musharraf.
Looking at this realistically Musharraf will not come because some of the awam want him to come. He will come only if certain people give him the green signal to come, he is made of the same mud as the rest of us................so lts see.
Chootthti naheen hai yeh zalim munh se lagi hui
As a Karachitte I love and support Musharraf. I think he should be given warm welcome. MQM has already left Defence/Clifton seat in favor of Musharraf (Jang News). Good move by MQM.
General (R) Musharraf may return to Pakistan ant time but he should first check with the security agencies if he does not any security threat after coming back to Pakistan.
I don't think that APML is an organized political party as it is a new political party in Pakistan and cannot win elections from the entire Pakistan and get the sweeping victory of a two-third majority to make a government, without any coalition partners, though General (R) Musharraf himself is popular among his fans.
I have not seen any Head of the State returning back to the power in Pakistan within a short span of five years of gap.
Moreover, I can foresee that General (R) Musharraf will be returning back to Dubai or London once the elections are over.
I love u musharaf so much and wish u to become a president of pak again
My only request to all my Pakistani friends who are overwhelmigly expressing their support for Musharraf, is to VOTE when the time comes. That is the main thing that you can do to help Pakistani politics. If we don't then we will have no right to complain when the same PPP/PMLN return to power and drive the country down the gutter even further. YOU have the power of the Vote. Don't underestimate it.
Musharraf made many mistakes, he does not know politics as much as he should. He relied on those politicians who have turned their back on him. He was running the economy considerably well but he should have abstained from SC matters.
Yes, he gave freedom to press/media. People were feeling more safe when he was ruling but he succumed to the pressure of US and allowed them to strike drones in our country which has brought significant damage to people/property.
I really hope that he has learned some politics during his stay in Dubai.
@Mudi: Correction: PPP came to power because people voted for them. PPP was never barred from taking part in elections and they (and PMLN) were in the opposition during Musharraf time. The only thing that Musharraf did was bow to the "democracy" movement and allow Nawaz and Benazir to get back in. Had he not done that the very same people who are criticizing him now would have been criticizing him for not allowing "true" democracy in the country. So pick what you want - you can't speak from both sides of your mouth.
Yes, all of you...please...support Musharraf....He had 10 years all to himself....10 years are enough to change the destiny of a country....what did he achieve? You people never learn....
He is the man lots of people waitin for.
@Zee Paki We r all with musharraf we like him an we also need leader like musharaf....
PPP came into power because of Musharraf and if people still want to welcome him "historic", then shame on us.
I fully support Zee views.
Musharraf, the real MAN. God bless him and may he be successful in coming elections. People should open their eyes and ears. Make a right decision by selecting him. His qualities are unmatchable with any other leader on pak, his honesty in unquestionable. He is the only leader who you can see right through him.
Expecting fireworks on 24th
I would love to see him be accorded a historic welcome. The vast majority Pakistani people are sick of the current politicians and I am sure they crave for Musharraf to return and set the course of the country back to the good days of his tenure. For th.e sake of Pakistan we need people like Musharraf to take the country back. My prayers for his safetly