KARACHI: Former president Pervez Musharraf has said that elections should not be held before 2018 but there was a dire need of change.
“An interim government of competent persons needs to be formed, which should have the powers to bring electoral reforms and bring about transparent elections,” he said talking on Express News talk show Takrar.
“If elections are held under the same system, PML-N will return to the assemblies,” he said talking to show-host Imran Khan.
Regarding rhetoric of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) on 2013 poll rigging, Musharraf said even if PTI had won, it did not have the two-thirds majority to form the government and bring about the changes promised by its chief Imran Khan.
The only way to remove Nawaz Sharif is the red card which is with the judiciary or the army, he said.
Replying to questions by host Imran Khan he said times have changed. “My times were different, we are living in different circumstances, the world has moved ahead since my term in government,” he said, accepting that people were now more aware of their rights.
“When people will be denied rights and justice they will resort to protests and sit-ins,” he said.
The rulers think they have popular support, however, they might be having two-thirds backing of MNAs but two-thirds of the people are not with them, Musharraf said.
It is wrong to say that a few thousand people are following sit-ins, the support they have across the country should also be taken into account, he said.
Musharraf said that he does not know who has written the so-called script, what is necessary is that it should be in favour of Pakistan not an individual.
He said that as of now, people have rejected Nawaz Sharif and he is responsible for his excesses. “I have a clear policy of Pakistan first,” said Musharraf who is facing multiple charges of crushing Baloch separatists, religious extremists and putting the Constitution in abeyance.
“If according to my philosophy of Pakistan First, Nawaz Sharif is imperative for the country, I will stand by him,” he said.
Musharraf made it clear that by change he did not mean change of government but a holistic change in the social, economic and political environment of Pakistan.
Corruption has become so rampant that people invest millions to make trillions from public sector projects.
“There is a strong need of 58-2B, a think tank to develop policies for Pakistan, and competent interim government to bring about requisite changes,” he said.
He said that there should a law for bringing back black money hidden in offshore accounts.
Regarding PTI leadership, the former president said that dead horses were joining Imran Khan. Ironically, these very dead horses get elected to the assemblies.
He said change cannot be brought about by solo flight. “In my coup, I did not go alone but gathered support of likeminded politicians to take forward a progressive agenda for the country.
“Even today politicians are crying for a coup, but the decision to impose a Martial Law is not an easy one to take,” the former military ruler said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2014.
COMMENTS (11)
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@abid: "Zia gave us Taliban and this dictator gave amnesty to all corrupt politicians. " Unclear as to whether you mean Musharraf or Zia by this dictator. In Zia's time as such there were no Taliban. But Musharraf used them for strategic purposes.
Musharaf did NRO to stay in the power. Zia gave us Taliban and this dictator gave amnesty to all corrupt politicians. Why cry now?
@Professor: Where is the local government system now? President Musharraf was more democratic than the present ruler.
@baig: A dictator who shamed the country with the worst terrorism, instability and disastrous policies over a decade is lecturing people on democracy? Is this some type of joke? A man who does not respect his oath as an officer to uphold the constitution but instead takes over the leadership of his country is in no position to talk about democracy or governance. All of Pakistan's current problems can be linked to his dictatorship of a decade starting with no electricity production despite being there for a decade!
@Candid1: And, subverted the Constitution twice and delayed inordinately the restoration of democracy causing national fissures. Even before grabbing power, he failed Pakistan in Kargil. It was a poorly calculated adventure, which could not have been sustained; and, so caused the death of those Pakistanis that got trapped in Kargil. He was reprimanded on Kargil by Clinton on his Pakistan visit. The Kargil misadventure was designed so if Musharraf were successful, be could "legitimately" grab power. Again if it were a failure, he could blame the government and yet again have pretext to snatch power. In the last days of his “presidency” he did the NRO, which protected the corrupt. His intention was to share power with the corrupt so he could prolong his hold on power. No sane or moral person would support Musharraf for he fully exposed himself through protecting the corrupt through the NRO.
@Professor: This "dictator" was more democratic than your "elected" kleptocrats. Among Musharraf's numerous democratic actions, just consider the following:
Lowered the voting age from 21 years to 18 years in order to enlarge the democratic franchise and bring Pakistani youths into the political system. Introduced local governments in order to give people representation at the local level, and solve their immediate needs. Introduced term limitations for leaders to ensure one person did not hog the premiership for indefinite periods. Required university degree qualification for MPs so that Pakistanis could have educated representatives and leaders. Increased the number of reserved seats for women in federal and provincial legislatures, so that they could overcome societal prejudices against them. Abolished the dual electorate system so that minorities could join mainstream politics. Freed the media so that the citizens could be exposed to views other than those of the government. Led an unprecedented revival of Pakistani economy that created thousands of jobs, and attracted billions of dollars in foreign investments. Kept the Indians and their terrorists under control. Faught the extrimists and terrorists to a standstill.On the other hand, your so called democrats never even thought of such far reaching democratic institutional changes, forget about about implementing them. It is for these reasons that I would rather have Musharaff's "dictatorship" than contemporary poiticians' kleptocracy.
Sab se pehle Pakistan!
If anyone symbolizes the ' status quo '.........it's Musharraf .
Here's a subject-matter expert telling Pakistan about the nuances of democratic traditions ! A dictator giving sermons on democracy can only happen in Pakistan !!
"The only way to remove Nawaz Sharif is the red card which is with the judiciary or the army, he said." And what about you sir? When you were shown a red card by an elected PM, you instead gate crashed into politics, and converted Pakistan into a pile of TNT, and safe heaven for TTP. Was that part of your Pakistan first but "Musharaf first and foremost" or what?
Mr President, With due respect, Sir, your time has come and gone. You should now work academically and stay away from politics.
Musharaff is very practical and true.He talks very sensible.