The All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) of former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf is all set to suffer a major jolt as the party’s Secretary-General Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif is going to join the long march of Dr Tahirul Qadri, Pakistan Today has learnt.
General Musharraf, in a recent TV interview, had criticised Dr Qadri’s long march and had said that there was no concrete reasons for it.
A close aide of Barrister Saif, the outspoken politician who defends Musharraf’s all extra-constitutional steps, told Pakistan Today that Saif would be meeting Dr Qadri today (Thursday) in Lahore and would announce his support for the long march.
“Upset with the continued exile of Musharraf, Barrister Saif is all set to jump off ship and he may join Qadri in future,” the source added. When contacted, Barrister Saif said he would be meeting Dr Qadri on Thursday, but said that he would not join Qadri. “I am meeting Dr Qadri in my capacity as head of Pasdaran-e-Pakistan and not on behalf of the APML,” he added.
He said that he would discuss some matters with Dr Qadri. “If I am satisfied, I would announce support for the long march from the platform of Pasdaran-e-Pakistan, not from the APML,” he added.
Asked if he was planning to part ways with the APML, Saif rejected the notion and said that any support by the Pasdaran would not mean that he was parting ways with the APML. “This decision would be from my capacity as head of Pasdaran-e-Pakistan,” he asserted. Saif is one of the last comrades left with Musharraf – who is facing utter isolation these days. He is facing criminal cases in Pakistan, including his alleged role in assassination of former PPP chairwoman Benazir Bhutto. The former military ruler is in self-exile since 2008.
Musharraf’s aide set to join Qadri’s long march
