Pakistan

Musharraf edges towards comeback

Afp April 28, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Former President Pervez Musharraf is planning to launch a political party in a comeback bid soon, officials said Wednesday.

An aide and election official confirmed to AFP that the retired general has applied to register a new political party with the electoral authorities in the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

Mohammad Ali Saif, a former cabinet minister and now a Musharraf legal adviser, said election authorities would hear the application on May 10. "I have formally applied for a new political party called All Pakistan Muslim League.

Pervez Musharraf is the head of this party and we will formally announce it after getting registered," he said.

Saif, an unofficial spokesman for Musharraf, is active in organising the new political party and said the former president had told him in London that he intended to return to Pakistan and fight a criminal case.

"I am in Punjab to establish our party structure here. We will establish it across Pakistan. I can see a bright future for Musharraf in Pakistan," Saif told AFP.

Sabir Hussain Gilani, a spokesman for the election commission of Pakistan, confirmed that the body had received the application. "They want to register their party as All Pakistan Muslim League but there are two more applications wanting the same name," he said. The chief election commissioner has issued notices to all the applicants and will decide on their application next month, the spokesman added.

COMMENTS (33)

ashar | 14 years ago | Reply NO HARM, PEOPLE ARE IN A FIX

Syed Shiraz Anwar | 14 years ago | Reply We are with you Mr. Musharraf, and I speak for all the literate and enlightened people of Pakistan

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sarfrazahmedgill | 14 years ago | Reply sir ilove u we are ur force u r not alone all pakitan with u u r for pakitan and pakistan for u u will come back inshallah

Fahad | 14 years ago | Reply WELLCOME back Sir, its your country and your people, and launch our pary APML i am intersted do the work in your party so if you need me every time then ask me. but i need you very must please come back.

umar shahbaz | 14 years ago | Reply General Musharraf please come back

Omer | 14 years ago | Reply PEP, Pakistan Enlightened Party. Well, I couldn't say much. The Jahil awam may need more suffering. Musharaf may succeed in some parts of Punjab. Otherwise he has no hope because other regions are ruled by feudal lords.

Natasha | 14 years ago | Reply Couldnt he find another name for his party?

Fasih Ali Khan | 14 years ago | Reply Pakistan badly needs a courageous Leader like of your's. We are sick of these selfish corwards who are ruling us right now. Pakistan shook badly as you left us under these worst of worst kind of people. May God Almighty help you succeed in serving this Nation. Ameen. God Bless Musharraf God Bless Pakistan

rutab | 14 years ago | Reply please come, may be it is time for us to see you facing music.

Shariff | 14 years ago | Reply It is really mindboggling when people here naively start mentioning killing of Akber Bugti and lal masjid, I ask them to go to dera bugti and see what he service he did to his people despite silently recieving hundreds of million rupees as ransom for sui gas fields, yes his family lived in absolute luxury and his slaves lived in sub human conditions, I fully support what happened in Lal Masjid, religion cannot be spread on dandas and force, remember the head of Lal Masjid running away in burqa leaving the misled young men to face one of the greatest army of the world. I am sure these idiots still believe that talibans are doing a great service to Islam. Musharaf is still the best option if we compared to what we have. He was sincere to the country and yes you cannot run a country by pleasing everybody!!

Mujahid | 14 years ago | Reply General sahab: Adaab: You should come back and appeal to Supreme court to withdraw NRO. You did not attack the Supreme Court. You simply wanted the judges to obey the verdict of Pakistan's parliament that had legally elected you as President of Pakistan for five years. it was your magnanimity that you decided to step down. I think you should instruct your representatives in Pakistan Dr. Nasim Ashraf and Barrister Saif to file a motion withdrawing NRO immunity currently being enjoyed by the politicians. I think the Supreme court will rule in favor of withdrawing the NRO (National Rape Ordinance) We your supporters know that your arms were twisted by powerful forces to undertake the NRO and you did it in the Interest of Pakistan. Mr. Bugti was fighting Pakistan army and was killed in armed engagement. Missing people are mostly terrorists who are either in Cuba or Organist. We need leadership in Pakistan. We need somebody who can at least talk one to one with the Americans. You are Pakistan's commando and a HERO. Pakistan Army salutes you. The cities of Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar Salute you. All Pakistan Muslim League like the All India Muslim League will lay the foundation for a new Pakistan under the able leadership of General Retired Musharraf. I think you would win the next election hands down.

Seerat-un-Nisa | 14 years ago | Reply General Musharraf please come back. Do not be afraid. Pakistan army both civilian and retired is behind you. We members of MQM are behind you. All members of PML Q are behind you. At least everyone knows what you own. All your assets are in Pakistan except the flat that is owned by your Arab friends. YOUR FARM HOUSE IN ISLAMABAD AWAITS YOUR ARRIVAL. WE LOVE YOU MUSHARRAF LONG LIVE MUSHARRAF AND SAVIOUR OF PAKISTAN ALL PAKISTAN MUSLIM LEAGUE

Zuhair | 14 years ago | Reply Making of all Pakistan Muslim League will send shock waves in Pakistan Politics . Last time musharraf announced his intensions Imran Khan got stommach cramps during his Anti Zardari Campaign . Also PML(n) should be most thoughtful as it might prove fatal to carry the "League" word ( signifying a particular type of politics ) in the presence of APML .

Baziite | 14 years ago | Reply I think once he touches pakistani soil justice will fear him . But first he has to get on that plane .

Mubashir | 14 years ago | Reply You are a Commando Generl Sahib. Please return immediately. After all you said "Pakistan First Foremost"! So why haven't you returned in a year. Do you fear Justice?

Baziite | 14 years ago | Reply If any body remembers ... Benazir Bhutto Challenged Musharraf to contest any seat any where in Pakistan against her .....I am happy that musharraf is finally moving towards taking that challenge . And it is this spirit which will keep army out of politics in future . Power should flow from the people and not from the barrels of guns .

Mussarat Ahmedzeb Swat | 14 years ago | Reply Musharraf should start his political carreer 4rm swat since he has worked so hard here

Omar Qadir | 14 years ago | Reply Mr. Musharraf is welcome in the politics of Pakistan. Regardless his past, he has got the potential to sort things out and put the country on the right path in political, economical as well as social department. People having argument over his retreat should show democratic attitude and should use the power of their vote to pass their message if they are not happy with him.

Ismail Arif | 14 years ago | Reply Dear Mr. Fakhar, after reading your comments, please note that there is nothing personal but to keep the record straight, kindly read the press clippings including the gazette records at the national assembly and see that the day the famous 1973 constitution was passed with majority, just within 4 hours of its passing it was put in abeyance under the pretext of national security and the elected Prime Minister Z. A. Bhutto proclaimed himself as the Civilian Martial Law Administrator was it correct and after that you can follow and see the rest...

Syed A. Mateen | 14 years ago | Reply Having so many political parties in the country, I do not think that there is any room to announce a new political party in Pakistan. There may be some supporters of the former President who failed to add even a single Kilowatt of electricity in the country during the last eight and half years of his rule. Pakistanis does not need more political parties. What is required is how to resolve the core issues of the masses. The sad demise of Quaid-e-Azam’s Muslim League took place on the same day when Mohammad Ali Jinnah died. The present Muslim Leagues in the country PML(N), PML(F), PML(Z) and AML does not reflect the true sprit of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. During General (R) Pervez Musharraf’s rules all Muslim Leagues got united but PML(F) broken ties with rest of the (United) Muslim League. What will happen if All Pakistan Muslim League is going to be formed by the former President? Does the other Muslim Leagues are going to come under the umbrella of APML? Possibly PML(Z) and AML may join but I do not think that PML(N) headed by Mian Mohammad Nawa Shariff will ever join APML. Similarly PML(F) headed by Pir Pagara will also not join APML, otherwise Pir Pagara would have not broken ties with the (United) Muslim League during Musharraf’s regime. Musharraf may get support from MQM and few other small political parties. But on the other hand PPP and PML(N) who has signed CoD may get united against Musharraf’s League APML(M). It is easy to announce a new political party. But it is difficult to have its roots in the masses. APML(M) has to spell out what sort of government is going to make in case if Musharraf’s League is going to win the elections. Presidential form of government or Democratic form of government? General (R) Pervez Musharraf has ruled the country for eight and half years as a dictator. Will people allow returning the dictator in civilian form or will look at the picture of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who lost her life for the sake of democracy? It is too early for Generaflf (R) Perez Musharraf to announce his own political party, as first of all he has to get a clean chit while the UN has pointed out the weaknesses of General Musharraf’s government during which Benazir Bhutto got killed.

Bangash | 14 years ago | Reply Great man Musharraf is needed in Pakistan to provide some actual opposition. The PPP and PML-N are still playing "virsa siyasat" and not solving a single problem.

Nadir El Edroos | 14 years ago | Reply The number of political parties named "Pakistan Muslim League" is insane! The founding fathers would be turning in their graves seeing how divided we are as a nation let alone a whole spectrum of political parties, all claiming to represent the vision of the All India Muslim League.

Fakhar | 14 years ago | Reply Former President of Panama Noriega after completing his 17 years jail sentence in US jail in Florida has been extradited to France for trial in Paris for his crimes in France. We patriotic Pakistanis demand extradition of dictator Pervez Musharaf to try him for assasination of Benazir Bhutto and Nawab Akbar Bugti.If General Pinochet can be tried and extradited from London to Chille why not Musharaf? Guys like Barrister Saif should delete the title Barrister from his name as still he is making irrational utterences in favour of a dictator who abrogated the constitution, stiffled the judiciary and it is strange a person defending a criminal calls himself Barrister.Have you Mr Saif ever contested local bodies election or any election of the Bar Association? Try it first before registering any political party of the lunatics to support a former dictator?

Sani | 14 years ago | Reply Welcome Sir , the country needs you .

Ismail Arif | 14 years ago | Reply WELCOME back General Sahib, its your country and your people, only those who have no faith will talk rotten things about you, they fail to distinguish between good & bad and are just talking to satisfy their false ego. Let them talk about the killings of Akber Bugti, the infamous Lal Masjid operation and last but not the least the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and so on...These people fail to understand between legitimacy of the rule of law through which you governed and brought true democracy (election 2002)...I personally feel that you should face the court of law if any charges are framed against you and clear your name so that these so called democrats can keep quiet for the rest of their life...Sir, you have brought glory with the Pakistan Army and have drawn the attention of Indian government in bilateral dialogues on Kashmir and other core issue...and look how the present government is soft peddling on these issue...All the best for the inauguration for your new party as I voluntarily offer myself as a small worker of your launching party...Pakistan Paindabad !!!

Asher | 14 years ago | Reply Yes, country need leaders like Musharraf who hang these corrupt policticians.

cheema | 14 years ago | Reply NS should face article 6 for serving in marshal law of zia then he needs to face courts for billions he looted by changing the policies to help his bushiness. HOW ABOUT THAT!!!! Blinders are good for trainee animals only not human..

Masood | 14 years ago | Reply It will be great for the country. Jiye Musharraf.

talat khan | 14 years ago | Reply someone should tell him to stay in london. if he thinks just because he has 170,000 fans on facebook he can launch a political party tell him to take a look at imran khan's foray into politics.

Anwaar Munir | 14 years ago | Reply country badly needs you ! please comeback so we can hange you in front of millions of peoples.we really need it to satisfiy Lal Masjid inosents peoples.

Shahid | 14 years ago | Reply True to a Pakistani general's mentality, he will retire upon death! Anyways he should first face article 6.

Ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply How unlucky we are !

Shahzad Khan | 14 years ago | Reply Country needs you badly.

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