Adil Najam
Not totally unexpectedly, Gen. Pervez Musharraf has announced that he will return to active politics, that he will contest in the next elections whenever they are held, and that he will form a new political party. How do you react to this news? Is it great, good, irrelevant, bad, or terrible news? Cast your vote in our ATP Poll here and then, please, tell us why.
As you think about this, you may also like to revisit our August 2008 ATP Poll done right at the time of his departure, where we had asked what lay in Pakistan’s future after his departure: 30% said “everything will become much much worse” while another 30% said that “everything won’t become perfect, but things will improve.” Clearly a split decision.
We did a similar ATP Poll in October 2008 asking how people thought Pakistan had fared in the first two months without him: 31% said “everything became much much worse,” 24% said “only the faces changed, things are what they always were,” and 22% said “Everything hasn’t become perfect, but things have improved.”
Details of the news is still trickling in, but here are the essentials as reported in The Express Tribune:
Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has unveiled his plans to return to active politics, saying that he will contest the next general election in Pakistan.
Musharraf made the announced at a gathering of his supporters in Islamabad by teleconference. “I have decided to take part in Pakistan’s politics and I will contest the next elections, irrespective of whether they are mid-term or ends term elections,†he said in his brief address. A number of cases have been filed against Musharraf since the Supreme Court (SC) declared that the emergency imposed by him in 2007 was unconstitutional and illegal.
Musharraf said that he has received a lot of support from Pakistanis living abroad. “The Pakistanis I have met abroad have told me I should return to Pakistan,†he said. He remained secretive about his future plans saying that he would present his vision for Pakistan’s progress and the direction the country should take at a suitable time. “If you are with me, I will not let you down,†he added.
Musharraf asked his supporters to attend the Pasdare- Pakistan gathering on May 8 at the Islamabad Press Club. “Sitting on the sidelines of history never changed anything, become a part of positive change in Pakistan,†he added. Musharraf’s supporters have also launched a move to register a new party, The All Pakistan Muslim League.
Some comments from the ATP Facebook Page:
– “hahaha……Musharif se kaho k pahly Pakistan to ajayeee”
– “I think he should come,,,atleast he is better than all others,,,VOTE for Pervaiz Musharraf….”
– “Musharraf is not good But he is better than ZARDARI.”
– “musharef jaisa buzdil admi pakistan ne askta”
– “What a waste of time commenting on him.First he has to clear the deck.Where in hell did he manage all this money for launching a new party at the cost of Pakistani tax payers money.Belonging to a low middle class family and now potraying to be born with a silver spoon (not golden) and brushing with the world elites, Gen (r) Musharraf should leave this country of his naturalization alone and enjoy the fruits of his ill-gotten money till it lasts.This is the only way not to trigger the wrath of the people which gave him so much that he cannot digest it anymore.”
– “those calling Musharraf a coward have never served in the Army 40 years, never fought wars and have never faced danger. He is a self-made man, unlike the crooks Zardari and Nawaz Sharif.”
– “It’s Time for IMRAN KHAN.
to get up and be the president.
i think that he is the one who can saves pakistan.”
– “Right Decision by Him . to Come into Power via Right Path. Now its on people of Pakistan to decide…”
Being a Pakistani he’s always welcome to Pakistan however it would be premature to comment on his vote bank as we have no idea whether he ll be able to win even from his own constituency (if any). He should wisely make alliances from his leadership charm and take likeminds in confidence because the future politics is all about alliances.
Delighted that he would come back. But only AFTER he has dealt with the court and cases against him!
well i think mush was much much better than these rulers sitting in isb and lhr or raiwind, though he had some retarded advisors who dragged him in conflicts like lal masjid or emergency issues. but on the whole i believe mush should make a come back to give a positive change in political atmosphere. i expect that mqm and all pakistan mulim league will be a hope of light for the suffering people of pakistan.
God bless our country.
I do not like Musharraf and will NOT vote for his party. But I do think this is GOOD news because it is good to have more players in election politics and people wanting to get power through the ballot and not through guns.