Woodrow Wilson Centre speech: Musharraf vows to repeat his actions
Former president Pervez Musharraf vowed on Thursday that if he ever rose to power again he would not do things differently but would repeat all that he had done before.
“Whatever I did, I need to repeat it if I am back in power,” he told participants at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars.
However, Musharraf confessed that he did have one regret. “The only regret I have was on cutting a deal with Benazir Bhutto and implementing the National Reconciliation Ordinance,” he said. Benazir, according to him, violated her agreement with him to not return before the elections.
When quizzed about whether he knew about Osama bin Laden’s presence in Abbottabad since he was also army chief at the time that OBL allegedly moved there, Musharraf said that he was not aware, “whether anyone believes it or not”. Musharraf also took the opportunity to explain his actions in 2005. “I was trying to wean the Pakhtuns away from the Taliban, we were trying to organise local jirgas.” Musharraf said that he was accused of playing a double game, whereas he was trying to wean away those who did not want to support the Taliban.
Musharraf said that he regretted missing the fleeting opportunity of achieving an agreement on issues with Kashmir. He said that they were close to an agreement on Sir Creek, Siachen and Kashmir, but that fleeting moment passed. He pointed out that this was a missed opportunity by the US, calling it their “great blunder”.
On his return to Pakistan
Speaking to this correspondent after the event, the former president said that he would be returning to Pakistan on 23rd March 2012. Dubbing the charges against him in the Benazir Bhutto murder case as politically motivated, Musharraf said he was willing to face it, including more political cases that he expected to come up once he returned. He said that there was a leadership vacuum in Pakistan and that his party would gain momentum once he returned.
US women protest address
A day earlier, three American women protested with the Asia director of the Woodrow Wilson Centre for International Scholars over hosting the talk of Pervez Musharraf. Calling Musharraf a despot and a fugitive from justice, they asked him to cancel the address. One of the three women, Laurie Deamer, warned that “Musharraf’s talk will deeply offend the Baloch because they will perceive Americans as welcoming a leader who failed to protect their friends’ and family members’ lives”. “This will serve only to rub salt into the wounds of the Baloch who must live here, because it is too dangerous for them to remain in Balochistan,” Deamer wrote to Robert Hathaway, the centre’s Asia director.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 22nd, 2011.
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@Amjad: He had the most respect for constitution and his actions were validated by supreme court . Please read pakistani news nowadays and see what is democratic govt doing to the Supreme Court We need Musharraf . I believe he has the majority : the young ,the educated moderate ; Only few like you narrow minded people are against him Musharraf Welcome!!
As per the latest survey, Musharraf is the second most famous leader in Pakistan after Imran Khan....
love u sharfuu u r the best great hero of poor nation come back and save us love u.
Not in the name of defence but in the name of Kashmir .
Musarraf has attempted to resolve the bone of contention between India and Pakistan in one stroke , The Kashmir issue is a sentimental issue for both the country and can not be solved through normal political or diplomatic negociation but through an understanding between the top leaders of the two countries facilitated by the top leaders of the world who can compunsate the looser country through its economic development . Pakistan can cross the stormy sea if she intend to crack the kashmiri nut in one stroke as it was attempted by MUSHARRAF in the past
"President Zardari popularity among the Pakistani leaders most plummeted and Imran Khan’s popularity shot up most. ... President Zardari’s popularity, which was rated at 20 percent has fallen to 11 percent, said the poll results, while PM Gilani’s popularity has plunged down to 37 percent from 59. Muslim League-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif is in a better position, however, his popularity has also dropped down to 63 percent from 71. Most popular leader is Imran Khan, whose popularity has surged from mere 16 percent to 68 "percent.http://pak-news.com/obl-exit-brings-no-change-in-pakistanis-opinion-poll/
Musharraf's popularity lasted whole lot longer than President Zardari'shttp://archives.dawn.com/2004/03/19/top4.htm 86pc Pakistanis like Musharraf: survey
Repeat his actions? So hes going to screw this country all over again? Good to know.
@Mirza:
so i presume, minus your maniacal rant, that you think the fact that he has a house in islamabad, his mother is in pakistan and his repeated assertions about him coming back next year are all lies? what sort of backdoor to power does a civilian have? perhaps your distorted and warped view on pakistani politics has affected your mind to the point you're not able to form rational thoughts anymore. the fact remains that the poor and lower middle class actually do support president musharraf, because unlike the current crop of politicians, he connected to the poor and disenfranchised people. no one did more for the rural areas than president musharraf, even the current so called 'people' party. those who are doubting president musharraf now will see the reality next year inshallah. nothing can stop him God willing.
As you can read the opinions in this forum; Pervez Musharraf is a very divisive figure in our political history. There is greater need than ever before to look at his legacy in a balanced way. He made certain inevitable mistakes. But his intense focus on economic development, building lasting peace with India, higher education, foriegn investment and media liberalization will go a long way to serve the ultimate interest of Pakistan. He is not responsible for terrorism in Pakistan (or bringing the US war to Pakistan). America or Afghanistan's war, whatever you call it, has been brought by those forces who use Pakistan's soil against Nato forces in Afghanistan and against Pakistani nation as well. If militants can cross over from North and South Wizirstan into Afghanistan to launch attacks on Nato forces, so does the US has the right to target them with drones. If we could have controlled these terrorists from staging attacks in Afghanistan, there would not have been any drone attacks. As for Bugti's murder is concerned, Pervez Musharraf did not want to kill Bugti in any way. Bugti was killed along with 7 officers and soldiers (who went in to negotiate with him) due to the caving in of his shelter.
Vienna,22-07-2011 I do not rule out Parvez Musharraf coming back to Pakistan, since the office of Chief Justice of Pakistan is not life long.Besides, long lives can be cut short in undeclared civil wars.Pakistan has most of them on its own pure and sacred soil. --Kulamarva Balakrishna
He will never come back...thats his fate...plz keep trying...
Mush . Bush and Blair , Bajpei combine has laid down the path way to combate terrorism in south Asia and hence Mush can be reinstated if the situation in pakistan and afghanistan could not be controlled by the present set up .
Why these peoples dont do good when in the power during that time they look like pharoh.
How about the American lady also speaking for the rights of Kashmiris! Various lobbies are allowed to influence decision making in Washington, yet Kashmiri groups with populous support are being targeted to appease India. At the same time, the violent BLA movement (with limited support except for a few rich sardars) is being touted as a freedom struggle. For the record, Israel receives over $20 billion a year in aid and assistance from the United States. I don't hear grumbles on this aid among vociferous critics of reimbursement to Pakistan due to a battered US economy.
The grapes have finally turned sour for the General since judiciary, civilian govt, opposition and even military will not like to see him back in Pakistan as out of these there are many contenders for the top post and Imran Khan is already giving some of them sleepless nights to have one more added to the kitty.
an entertainer for drawing-room class! In mush rule judges, media, politicians,civil society and ppl of baluchistan and fata were under siege.. Check the history and compare it with current dmocracy. That is only why we say worst democracy is nicer than best dictatorship!
The bottom line is that things were, on the whole, better in his time.
Musharraf rocks - all the way ! I will come back only if he comes, otherwise good bye to Pakistan !
Great leader..
@RP: He never sacked CJ only he reffered his case of corruption to supreme judicial council which was sabotaged and things were overblown and country pushed 100 year back.Even now CJ is impotent.
Dictators have their own way of doing things. However, it is very clear that only a handful of persons endorse his actions. So, it doesn’t really matter if he comes back or not.
LOL...an american women supporting the baloch :)
The name of CIA comes to mind!
When did you realise this mistake Mr. Musharraf? It was an executive order. Could it have been reversed before you bowed out? If yes, then probably this may have been the ONLY best thing you did to the entire NATION.
@Amjad: In our society every one thinks they know better than the other ... calling some one misguided without enough knowledge will land you no where. I agree democracy is better than dictatorship but if a dictator who gave us hundreds of universities, stronger economy, independent media to name a few ... terrorism in Pakistan is not because of him rather its because of all those previous governments (mainly Zia) who failed to seal the border and FATA from where people cross the border for attacking another country. Please enlighten us as to who in your so called democratic parties respect law and constitution? Musharraf tried to increase education level by many folds ... only educated people can distinguish between good and bad politicians thus voting right people instead of sticking with political parties for life despite their incompetency and corruption. There is no substitute for good democracy but for that you need a populace who can distinguish between good and bad for the country. So in short the majority of people are misguided and the proof is voting corrupt leaders and voting those based on family politics instead of country.
Nine years of unlimited and unchecked Power he had and where did it take Pakistan- to the current crisis when Balochistan to Waziristan is on fire and there are bombs going off everywhere! He has a lot to answer for. From his secret "deals" to keep himself in power and unchecked corporotisation of the army and the country to the deaths of leaders like Benazir and Bugti. He came into power by starting a military adventure in kargil that cost lots of poor Jawans their lives on a no hope mission behind the backs of an elected Government who was making peace deals with India.
so his only mistake was the NRO and the sacking of the Chief Justice was...... ????
@Baba Jee: would you like to name a few out of the available dozens?
A true and patriotic leader but not a visionary.
he seems to be the best hope for pakistan in current situation.as much as i grudgingly admire him for his wit and personality my indian genes do not permit me to like him because of what he did in kargil.
@Baba Jee: name a couple among those dozens
The single biggest achievement of Pervez Musharraf was to ensure a steep decline in the incidence poverty in Pakistan from 35 percents when he took over, down to 17 percents at the end of 2007. This finding had been approved and validated by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (these are multilateral international institutions over which PM had no control so no need to dispute these figures).
The Asian economic development model is different from the one in the West. Look at Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and China, yes China. All these countries became Asian Tigers under the patronage and supervision of dictators or closed political systems. India may be an exception. But compare India to Chia. The two countries being identical in many respects, with India having some advantages over China. But China is far ahead of Indida in terms of economic growth, per capita income and so on. China's closed political system with unparallel focus on quick, effective and flexible decision makings served it well. So there are alternatives to democracy atleast in the short-run. At the end of the day, every country has to become a democratic one. But the Asia model dictates; rapid economic development under dictatorships and opening up to democracy and other liberal ideas once you achieve a certain level of prosperity. I wish Pakistan could have followed this model...........
IF he ever rose ti power again. He knows that's not happening. Bolne mein kya jata hai?
As he said, he will not do things differently - he will take over the government by force with the military backing. As soon as he is president again, travel the world and not do a thing for the country.
He should regret for NRO, due to which we have come at this stage that there is no electricity, gas & water. All our public sector has divested.
Good days will be back with his return. I want an escape from this democracy of revenge.
I think 10 years are enough to turn a country around. His picks were the worst of lot, Chaudhary Shujaat and co. More than once he preferred his interests over country's.
Excellent insight into the thinking of a person who refuses to learn from his many mistakes.
@Ali Turk You can dream whatever you want but the fact is that after Musharraf's APML registration the loot parties have already started packing up. Inshallah this time nation will not let them run away.
@Ali Turk: Look at how the masses are suffering NOW under psuedo "democracy".
Musharraf, was, is and will remian the best leader of Pakistan. Musharraf opponents are either corruption supporter or are indians, otherwise every sincere Pakistani love hims and misses him.
It is time to stop addressing the American audience and start talking to the Poor of Pakistan. Mr. Musharraf had a decent term at the top slot. If he had delivered he would not be in exile!
Those who have a chance now must learn before the tide rises any further....
Individuals come and go... institutions build Nations.....
We need sincere people who know that they shall live and die in and for Pakistan.... The others are available in Pakistan by the Dozens....
Respected sir,'' we are being a unite nation.with due respect,''i will bring a kind notice for your kind information that you are the best & Pakistan is in great trouble,we all having,facing problems that's why we need you the greatest political hero.Sir,i request you to show your attitude and save the Nation in Worldwide.pleas,pleas,please.
Musharaf knows he was simply the best, so he is more keen to repeat his actions. A MAN always stand firms. :)
@Karachivi: Argumentum ad Hominum!
I bet he will never come back to Pakistan He has close to Nil support amongst masses he does not realise the damage,the long term harm he has caused to the country and the armed forces.
Wow! An American lady speaking for the Baloch people. Speaks volumes!!! CIA goes overt from covert, will be a headline in the near future.
How will Musharraf be back in power when only a minority of misguided people support him? Does he plan to take over the country illegaly by guns and force so that he can have another 9 years of illegal dictatorship? How can any self respecting nation allow someone who has no respect for the constitution and laws to contest elections? So sad.