APML Senior Vice President Ahmed Raza Kasuri.
Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s political party – the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) – plans electoral alliances with three political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of Imran Khan.
Musharraf will make a formal announcement about possible alliances next week from Dubai, a close aide of Musharraf told The Express Tribune on Saturday.
“We are working on alliances and seat adjustments with the MQM, PTI and Dr Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek,” he said. “Since our manifesto is revolutionary, we are in contact with political parties who believe in change.”
APML Senior Vice President Ahmed Raza Kasuri, said the proposed alliances were meant to bring the 65% youth of the country on one platform to end the politics of status quo. However, he said, it is a source of contention for party leaders that contrary to Musharraf’s expectations, no notable politicians have yet joined the APML — at least before his arrival to Pakistan.
A ceremony was held in Islamabad on Saturday to welcome some politicians who joined the APML but, Kasuri said, some influential personalities who were in contact with Musharraf did not show up.
Kasuri predicted that several politicians would join the party after the return of Musharraf. “We have got support from custodians of shrines,” he added. “Apart from others, today brother-in-law of Senate Chairman Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, Syed Ashfaq Hussain Bokhari, also joined the APML.”
Once a caretaker government is in place, Musharraf will make a final decision about his homecoming. “He might return to Pakistan and hold public gatherings. At the same time he might also delay his return,” Kasuri said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2013.
COMMENTS (27)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1730789969-0/Untitled-design-(98)1730789969-0-270x192.webp "gen asim munir to remain coas till 2027 khawaja asif")
Pakistan has around 144 districts and every district has 4/5 so called political families / local feudal lords. One can check their historical background, doesn't matter if the present generation is educated or little sophisticated. Since independence these families are in power except short period of ZA Bhutto with little participation of middle class. Majority seats in Parliament are from Rural areas and Urban area politicians have the same feudal attitude. Most of these feudal run parallel government in whole district (in tehsils & villages) controlling police and revenue (thana & Kacheri). Even the justice department is also influenced by them in one way or the other by dictation to lawyers and judges.This elite ruling class is corrupt, cruel, law beaker and criminal in many cases. Nothing will change in Pakistan as long as the Development Funds are being distributed among the elected elite. Politics is the highest profitable business of few hundred people in the country. www.multantimes.com
@valkyrie: If you think dictatorship is the way to go, then ask General Kayani to take over and abrogate the constitution. Why do you even believe in the charade of democracy. If you don't believe in rule of law or the constitution, just say so. Just so you know, most Pakistanis abroad including myself were embarrassed by having a general rule Pakistan as a dictator. Even Zardari makes the country look 1000 x better by virtue of him being a politician and not a general.
PERVEZ MUSHARRAF was,is and INSHALLAH will be the best. PAKISTAN FIRST.
@Maria: "You conveniently forget that most people blame Musharraf for all of the current problems."
That's a sweeping statement without any authenticity. I do believe Mr. Siddiqui is correct. Not only in Pakistan but also in the international scene Musharraf is the only one from Pakistan who has credibility. Its time we gave up our personal likes or dislikes and instead concentrate on the correctness of things.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: You conveniently forget that most people blame Musharraf for all of the current problems. If you were to ask me, Musharraf's rule was the worst thing to have happened to Pakistan. It doesn't surprise me that an army general who took over in a military coup would want to work with someone like Tahirul Qadri who is a failed runaway politician who thinks he can take over by force too by shutting down Islamabad.
Sorry Musharraf. You're the one who got us into America's 9/11 war in the first place, and you will never be forgiven for that!
The way Pakistan has been sliding downhill every previous ruler looks better than the present one. Once the current govt is changed/defeated there would be people who would fondly talk about it compared to the new govt. We have to stop the downward slide of the country and society rather than bank on a few faces and names. Mush is like a spent force who has brought us to this stage. We have to look forward not backward if we want to make any progress.
When I see the Commando land in Pakistan, then I will believe him. He must be arrested at the airport unless he sneaks in by road or sea with the help of Americans, after all he gave them all the privileges a client State could offer to their masters. One should also look into Ahmed Raza Kasuri, how much wealth did he accumulate while serving the Commando.I question why wait for the caretaker government, does he think that caretaker set up is setup by Army and he will be received as a hero. Rest assure Mr.Kasuri, he will be arrested even during the caretaker government and you will have a chance to defend him in the court of law.It will be amusing to see him standing before our CJ.
PTI is a waste of time, as they will not get more than 10 seats in the NA. Musharraf needs to focus on aligning with the MQM, as they have a major mandate, and will play a significant role in the next setup. Also, MQM is very powerful at the international level, and no government can run smoothly with MQM in the opposition.
Nayyar Bukhari's brother in law joins APML and they consider it an achievement, haha.. how low can they get?
@Reformer:
if you have to preface voting for PML-N under any circumstances, you are discredited for your attack on musharraf and your feelings towards him. the APML can have seat adjustment but an electoral alliance will be decided when PM returns inshallah
@Hassan: "I fear that Nawaz Sharif (Mr. Amir-ul-Momineen) will be the next Prime Minister."
The next Govt too will be a coalition. Who will he ally with since PML N is quite isolated except for some nationalistic parties in Sindh and Balochistan?
If PTI agrees to enter into this alliance, then for sure they will loose my vote which will then go to PML-N.
@PapaJohn: For sure, that will be the end of Imran Khan's political career.Mush and Tahir ul has nothing to loose in any case so they will wellcome this idea,
I want Musharaf Imran and Qadri to hold a joint press conference to announce their alliance. That would be great for us. Please Please Please do this once! just Once!
Thanks
Musharaf will never return to Pakistan.He is scared
As aftermath of the recent opnion survey I expect not only the named parties have posibility of joining together after coming down from their ivory towers, but I suspect they will have a tacit support from PPP as well in selected places, read central punjab.That is the only way they have chance to defeat PMLN. So much for revolutionary politics.Come on guys wake up. APML, MQM, Tahir mullah as revolutionary?Think again. I had hopes from PTI but IK 's Uturns and focusing only on PMLN has tarnished his image. I still think that PMLN and PTI should join hands and win the elections and claen up. UNLESS PTI starts targeting winning from everywhere and go alone. In that case I am with them.But their hobnobbing with MQM and PPP and now with Mush; I am terribly dis appointed former supporter.
Birds of the same feather........fly together
They can only dream of such alliance.
PTI will never do alliance with them.
PTI has already ruled out electoral alliance with MQM, APML
sigh politics.
Mushi trying to gain space in media by talking about PTI. We know this alliance is never going to happen.
please, leave pti out of your mess.
If Musharraf does not come back to Pakistan this season, then he can write himself off and lose favor of the voting citizens. he is a lesser evil than PMLN and PPP. He has to face the Sharifs, mullahs and some armed forces turncoats (retired) who have made rancid remarks against him. This issue has taken on a racial profile. The 'chala huwa kartoos' on Jirga program (GEO) looked baffled and groped for replies when the anchor asked pointed and simple questions of high relevance. Nevertheless, allying with PTI, PAT, MQM and like minded-platforms has possibility of adding weight to a leaderless party. Salams
While evaluating the two tenures of the governments viz. Mr. Zardari's and Musharraf's, the common man of Pakistan is saying that Mr. Musharraf's era was much better in every respect comparing to Mr. Zardari.
People of Pakistan would welcome General Pervez Musharraf upon his arrival in Pakistan and once again would like to see him back as Head of the State.
Care to ask PTI first? :D