Musharraf rules out martial law or early polls, sees ‘technocrat govt’

The former president proposes forming political alliance to fill ‘greater political vacuum’ in Karachi

All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) chairman General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has said that there were no chances of either martial law or immediate general elections but a ‘national government’ could be formed in the country.

Addressing the newly-elected office bearers of his party in Dubai on Thursday, he said Pakistani politics revolved around ethnic, racial and lingual basis, which was damaging for national interests. “We, on the other hand, want to establish APML on national level across the country, representing every Pakistan,” he added.

The former president said that there were three possible scenarios that could shape up the political landscape of the country in the coming days. “One, to dissolve the incumbent government and announce fresh elections… second, to form a national government and third to impose a martial law that is neither imminent nor possible in this entire situation,” he said.



Gen Musharraf advocated for the second scenario of forming a national government, saying it was feasible in the current scenario but without involving ‘the present lot of political parties’ as it will give no benefit to the country.

He suggested that the national government should be formed with the participation of technocrats in it.

Commenting on Karachi’s political situation, the APML chief proposed forming a political alliance to fill a ‘greater political vacuum’.

“Karachi is the best place for such an alliance as the biggest metropolitan houses Pakistanis from every nook and corner of the country," he said. "We will form a political alliance in Karachi that will be above from all kinds of lingual, ethnic and racial discrimination.”