Musharraf returns to politics

Former president of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf has launched the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) that plans to enter the political arena for the next general elections. He also issued an apology to the nation for "past mistakes which hurt Pakistan".

Musharraf told cheering supporters that the best way to deal with Pakistan's political and economic troubles is to bring his party to power.

He said there is need to "bring all patriotic people under one flag - and that flag should be the All Pakistan Muslim League."

Musharraf said the only way to tackle Pakistan's problems was to bolster the army's role.

End of live updates - 8:15pm

Twitter comments

8:11pm

PPP leader Jahangir Badar, commenting on the launch of the APML, says Musharraf gave his speech as if he was still the president of Pakistan. He says that he welcomes Musharraf to return to Pakistan as the people want to hold him accountable. Badar also says that the current crises are a result of Musharraf’s regime.

Twitter comments

7:57pm

The crowd chants slogans, "Musharraf teray jaan nisaar, beshumaar beshumaar!"

Musharraf says he is thankful towards everyone and says "sub se pehle Pakistan."

The crowd breaks into appreciation.

Twitter comments

7:53pm

Musharraf says he invites all politicians to come and join the APML, especially the youth of the country.

Musharraf says Allah has blessed Pakistan with resources. We have water and energy sources as well as human capital. We are talented people. Why can’t we stand on our own feet.

Musharraf says we will not rely on the IMF.

7:50pm

Musharraf says the people are crushed under rising prices. He says that daily necessities should be given to the poor at lower rates.

He says that the health and education system needs to reach the people.

He says he believes in the freedom of media and says that he can claim that he freed the media.

He says we are not scared of the media. Only those are scared who have something to hide.

7:47pm

He says that there can be no success if we do not fight terrorism. There should be zero tolerance towards it.

Musharraf says that there the al Qaeda have no right to be in Pakistan.

Musharraf says that we can generate energy from alternate sources.

He says that people have lied in terms of energy. “Do they think we are idiot?” I want to tell the liars that right now Pakistan has the capacity to generate 19,500 MW of electricity.

Musharraf says agriculture is important. We can do import substitution and export orientation.

7:42pm

The former president says we will raise the GDP like we did before.

He says we will crush anyone who raises his voice against Pakistan.

Musharraf says "we will wage war on terrorism until the war goes on."

Twitter comments

7:38pm

Musharraf says nepotism and corruption are the biggest curse.

Musharraf says that men and women should be equal.

He says that the party will particularly focus on educating women

Food, clean water and electricity are the most important necessity

We will make langars for the poorest of Pakistan and involve the Baitul Maal and enforce philanthropic activity.

7:35pm

Musharraf says that they will end the culture of dynastic politics.

He says that on the question of more provinces, the people's decision will be accepted.

He says at the international level, the party will adopt "enlightened moderation" approach.

He says that they want good relationship with India, only after issues are resolved.

The former president says that all focus will be diverted to the country's progress.

Musharraf says the party's constitution will be based on the Quran and Sunnah.

7:31pm

Musharraf says "jo darta hai woh khota hai."


Twitter comments

7:29pm

He says that the time for talk has passed, now it is time to take action.

Musharraf says that the text "sub se pehle Pakistan" is written in white because it represents the minorities, and their symbol, the 'shaheen' because is soars high and lives on elevated places.

7:27pm

Musharraf says that it is time to revive the fire that once existed in the All India Muslim League. He says "we will remake Quaid's Pakistan under the banner of the All Pakistan Muslim League."

He says "APML will do jihad against hunger and poverty."

7:23pm

Musharraf says "In our nine years we place the fear of God in the hearts of the rich and powerful. We gave Pakistanis honour around the world and we improved the economic conditions."

He says it is time for us to move Pakistan forward.

7:21pm

Musharraf says Pakistan was made when the Muslims of the subcontinent realised that they would not prosper under Hindu domination. We attained Pakistan, and when we look at the people, they did not get the happiness that they aimed for.

The former president says that those countries where the people are not happy get destroyed. Why do people get unhappy? Because they do not get the rights they fought for.

7:17pm

Musharraf says that this is Pakistan is identity which is why he says Pakistan first.

He says that Pakistan is in a bad state and we are responsible for this downfall. It is obligatory for us to not only save Pakistan but also take it towards success.

Twitter comments

7:14pm

Musharraf says "I did take some wrong decisions in my past. Some of them were political decisions and I am only human, and I apologize for all those mistakes which have hurt Pakistan."

He says "I have learnt a lot from those mistakes and I am sure I will not make them again. I will start with a clean slate."

Twitter comments

7:09pm

Pervez Musharraf starts his speech.

Mushrraf announces his participation in politics of Pakistan.

The crowd starts chanting slogans in appreciation.

7:06pm

Naeem Bukhari, host of the ceremony talks about the achievements of Pervez Musharraf.

Bukhrai says "since leaving office General Musharraf is the only politician who has risen in stature."

He says " Musharraf above all, moved Pakistanis out of despondency. Brought economic uplift to the country. Why has Musharraf chosen to enter the murky world of Pakistani politics? Because of his love for Pakistan, its people and to address the drift of the current Pakistan government."

7:00pm

Recitation of verses from the Holy Quran.

The cermemony starts with the national anthem of Pakistan.

The proceeding for former President Pervez Musharraf's party have started

People chant slogans for the Pervez Musharraf.

Bad mein ho ga har insaan,

Sab se pehlay Pakistan!

Chaaron soobon ki pehchaan,

Sab se pehlay Pakistan!

These are the slogans emblazoned atop Pervez Musharraf’s official Facebook  page.

The former Pakistan president/ex-Chief of Army Staff has been active on Twitter today, inviting fans to attend the official launch of his party, the All Pakistan Muslim League:

Friends, kindly visit the official " All Pakistan Muslim League" Fb page if you would like to attend any of the... https://fb.me/Kjusqn6b

and

Today, God has given me the opportunity to set the tone of my political legacy for our future generations. Come...https://fb.me/EBftBwdo

Reports stated that Musharraf’s associates have arrived in London where the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) will be officially launched.

"When there is a dysfunctional government and the nation is going down, its economy is going down, there is a clamour, there is a pressure on the military by the people," Mr Musharraf told the BBC's Today programme.

"There is a sense of despondency spreading in Pakistan and the place that they go to is the military. There is nobody else people can go to," he said.

According to BBC, Musharraf said he was launching the party in London because he faced the  risk of assassination if he returned to Pakistan.

'Bad’ politician or charmer?

While some have highlighted the ‘corrupting influence of the political system under Pervez Musharraf’ and referred to him as a ‘bad’ politician, Miss Pakistan World 2007 Mahleej Sarkari has confessed her unconditional love for the former President, calling him a charmer.

“I love Musharraf, I love Musharraf, I love Musharraf, and it would be an honour and privilege for me to meet him in person and talk to him,” she said.

“I like the President because he has a charming personality and a charisma that attracts me towards him,” Mahleej said.




What's on his agenda

The former president has called for the army to be given a constitutional role in the turbulent politics of the nuclear-armed nation. He said the military were the only resort for Pakistani people frustrated with their government as it struggles with rampant militancy and a crumbling economy.

“We cannot allow Pakistan to disintegrate, that cannot be allowed. No Pakistani will allow that, no Pakistani wants that. So who’s the saviour?,” he said. “The army can do it. Can anyone else do it? No, nobody else can do it. So therefore the answer is the army gets involved.”