MQM-P, PSP, APML alliance can beat PPP, says Musharraf

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  • Says the alliance could also bring forward blocs of PML-N, PPP in Punjab under its umbrella

Former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf said that an alliance involving his party the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), and the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) could defeat the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

“An alliance of the three parties, along with Pir Pagara and other political forces, will be able to beat the PPP [in Sindh],” he said Sunday in a video statement from Dubai.

He further said the alliance could also bring the forward blocs of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the PPP in Punjab under its umbrella.

Regarding his alleged role in Karachi’s politics, the APML chief said, “Neither has the PSP offered me to lead them, nor I have any interest in doing so.”

He reiterated that he considered heading the MQM a foolish thing to do and he had already clarified that.

“I cannot restrict myself to an ethnic or communal political party,” he said. “I think about the welfare of muhajirs, not the MQM. I don’t consider myself the leader of one community only,” he added.

“The MQM-P and the PSP coming together seemed like an unnatural alliance, but it was good for the muhajir community,” he added.

It is crucial to note that on Friday, Musharraf announced the formation of a 23-party alliance under the umbrella of ‘Pakistan Awami Ittehad’ and invited the MQM-P and the PSP to join him.

The development came on the heels of unfolding developments in Karachi, where a rare alliance between the MQM and the PSP lasted only for 24 hours.

Various reports suggested efforts by ‘certain quarters’ to forge some kind of alliance between Karachi’s two urban parties, bringing them under the command of the former general. These reports got some credence on Friday when Musharraf telephonically addressed members of the 23-party alliance in Islamabad from Dubai and spoke about the possibility of the MQM and the PSP joining the new alliance under his command.

On the other hand, several parties have dissociated themselves from Awami Ittehad alliance only a day after the announcement of its formation under the leadership of Musharraf.

After Pakistan Awami Tehrik distanced from Awami Ittehad on Saturday, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) also denied being part of the alliance. MWM Central Spokesman Allama Mukhtar Imami said his party has not decided to join any alliance.

MWM officials said their leaders are focused on the recovery of their missing party leader Nasir Sherazi.

Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza also clarified that his party’s alliance with Awami Ittehad is not meant for the election.

It merits mentioning here that over a dozen parties among 23 which claimed to be members of Musharraf’s Awami Ittehad are non-functional while activities of several others are very limited.

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1 COMMENT

  1. I would vote for Musharraf if he publicly acknowledges and begs forgiveness for the NRO he brought that we the people are paying the price for.

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