System update: Musharraf against polls before 2018
Ex-president says change is now necessary, interim govt needed
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.
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.