All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) President General (r) Pervez Musharraf on Sunday announced that he would return to Pakistan any day between January 27 and January 30 and would land in Karachi. Addressing an APML rally in Karachi through video conferencing from Dubai, Musharraf said he would contest general elections from Chitral. “I will come back to the country. They are trying to harass me. I will not be harassed. I will come to Pakistan, will face all fabricated cases against me. I will come back to the country for the people of Pakistan. I will put myself in danger for the people. I will succeed in the elections.” Asked if he had asked any of military leaders for protection once he returns, Musharraf said it was not the army’s duty provide security to individuals. “I don’t like to embarrass them, I haven’t asked them,” he said. “I will ensure my own safety, I know how to keep myself safe … there are a large group of officers who are in support and I’m very proud of that.” Musharraf avoided criticising the government but condemned PML-N President Nawaz Sharif without taking his name. He said the public meeting was “not a tsunami but an earthquake which will leave an impact on the future of Pakistan and its politics”. The former president started his speech by announcing support for Bangalis and Beharis, saying Banglis should obtain CNIC and passports of Pakistan while Pakistan and Bangladesh should sit and resolve issue of Beharis, who were true patriots stranded in Bangladesh. He said he was in favour of Hazara province and would resolve the matter with consensus. “Karachi is the city of every Pakistani. This is the city of Quaid; it is my city and those who sacrificed a lot for Pakistan. Karachi is the engine of the country’s development,” he said. He said he brought development to Karachi, refurbished Mazar-e-Quaid, sanctioned Bin Qasim Park, signal-free corridor and a number of flyovers. Musharraf also praised MQM’s Mustafa Kamal and Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad for their support during the upgrading of Karachi. “We are going to general elections this year. That is why this historical public meeting has been arranged. You have to decide weather you want to select old parties and leaders or want change. You have to decide,” he added. “I scored a century in my innings. I should not be compared to those who scored a duck or those who are yet to play an innings,” he said. Musharraf said he successfully ran the country for ten years, broke the beggar’s bowl, said good bye to the IMF and did not accept $300 million in loan.
“Pakistan made progress in every sector [under my regime],” he claimed.
“Pakistan is passing through crises. Tussle between institutions has started. Gas and electricity crises have multiplied. Railways has shuts down and PIA is close to doing so. The government has taken $36 billion to $60 billion in loans and the IMF has returned. Terrorism has increased and the country stands alone in the world,” Musharraf said.
The former army chief said extremist were enemies of development and were carrying out terror acts in the name of Islam.
“Unfortunately some political elements support extremism. These elements go to Balochistan and speak against me, that I was involved in the murder of Akbar Bugti. These elements are busy in a conspiracy. Those calling me an enemy of the Baloch actually want to keep Balochistan backwards,” he added. “Yes, I was, I am and I will remain an enemy of those who do not allow the Pakistani flag to be hoisted, murder Punjabis and Hazaras,” Musharraf added. He said he had made a mistake by granting amnesty to politicians and bureaucrats accused of corruption, embezzlement, money laundering, murder, and terrorism between 1986 and 1999. “The NRO is something I shouldn’t have done. Although I was advised, but the ultimate decision was mine,” he said, referring to the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) which he issued in 2007.
US relations: Separately, talking to Reuters, Musharraf said urgent action was needed to salvage Pakistan’s dire relations with the US. “Today Pakistan-US relations are at their lowest, this is because of a trust and confidence deficit,” Musharraf said.
“I believe Pakistan needs to justify and clarify the issue of Osama bin Laden having been found in Pakistan,” said Musharraf.
“At the same time the United States needs to identify what environment they are leaving in 2014 when they quit because that is going to affect directly Pakistan.” Islamabad’s cooperation with Washington is seen as crucial to helping to stabilise the region before foreign combat troops leave Afghanistan in 2014.
“I believe that inter-state relations are more than half interpersonal relations between the leaders… if I think about myself, I could anytime pick up the phone to President Bush whenever I got agitated on anything.”
Saudi trip: Meanwhile, Reuters quoted Saudi and Pakistani sources as saying that Musharraf also plans to travel to Saudi Arabia soon to gather support for his political comeback.
“Musharraf will be travelling to Saudi Arabia soon in order to get support before he goes back to Pakistan,” said a Gulf-based Saudi source familiar with the matter. A Pakistani source confirmed that Musharraf, who is in Dubai, was to travel to Saudi Arabia soon. The source declined to say what form of support the former president is seeking. But some reports have said that Musharraf will seek Saudi guarantees that he would not be detained.