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.
I think the politics of revenge should end. I say let him come back. Even though I will never vote for him.
More comments from the ATP Facebook Page:
– “should come…… he can live better life there he is not a regular politician bt he wants to come & wants to do something 4 dis country as he did in past…yes he should come.”
– “He’s a traitor, sold us zillion of times and will do it over and over again.”
– “yes he should come bak !”
– “terrible decision it is. He is the responsible for pushing us into so called war against terrorism, killing hundreds of innocents in lal masjid including girls and women, killing akbar bugti and thus, making balochistan a trouble place for the time to come, selling out many of the citizens of Pakistan to america, including Dr Afia Siddique and many other. He is the one who made this country an american colony, he sold his religion and country for dollars. So coward he is that he can’t even dare to come back to Pakistan”
– “we are so uneducated and unwise, this thinking ‘zardari acha nae hai tou musharraf ko wapis ajana chahiey’ shows this. Be a wise man, organize yourself and produce leaders from among yourself and stop relying on these corrupt political leaders of Pakistan”
– “great decision…hez the best in the current lot!”
– “no he shudnt come.
v cant c dis country to b sel again!”
– “I know some people who have served Musharraf and they have not told me anything positive. He is coward,a sellout and corrupt. I have also traveled with him while on his way to US, this person is an actor, he fooled everyone, including himself. The flight he was taking to US was directed to Boston instead of NewYork as if he was on a private aircraft(at that time his son was living in Boston).He treated the National Exchequer his own personal account.”
– “He sould come back!!!! He’s better than others.”
– “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.”
– “SO THEY ALL R THE SAME, WHAT V NEED A GROUP OF PEOPLE OF GOOD FAME FROM ALL 4 PROVINCES, THY SHOULD FORM GOVT, PREORITIZE OUR PROBLEMS AND SOLVE THEM. ANYBODY WHO HAS ASSETS OUTSIDE PAKISTAN MUST NOT B ALLOWED TO CONTEST ANY ELECTION, OR PART OF ANY GOVT IN FUTURE.”
– “My Vote is with Mr. Musarraf my opinion of Musharraf after 9/11.When U.S. invaded Afghanistan in response to terrorism, and the terrorist attack on its parliament later that year led India to threaten to do the same to Pakistan. Musharraf seemed to offer firm leadership in this time of crisis
Musharraf spoke in favor of tolerance, women’s rights and moderate interpretations of Islam.
He liberalized the media, allowing dozens of private television channels to operate and freely criticize the government. And at first he seemed prepared to allow the judiciary to challenge the government.”
– “WE SHOULD GIVE HIM A CHANCE .PERHAPS HE LEARNT FROM MISTAKES AND NOW HE CAN KNOW WHO WERE/ARE HIS ENEMIES AND WHO WHO HELP HIS OPPOSITION LIVING IN HIS GROUP AND DEGRADED HIM.MAP”
– “im totally agree with Sabahat Ahmad Musharaf was much better then these rulers…”
– “Haha Lanat on him. He has to face the court , cuz he is proven culprit for breaking law & constitution 2 times, murdrer of innocent citizens of pakistan including BB . We should condemn musharaf . God will do justice and musharaf will be hanged to death Inshallaha Inshallaha.”
– “one day they all will b hanged, InshAllah”
– “all folishs thinks that sir mushrraf will be hanged bohat maaza araha hai kiya democracy mai zara ghar say nikal kar dekho k kiya tabha hali hai investors paisa laganay ko tayyar nahi inflation 18% per chalagay mehangaiee musalsal barh rahi hai gaer kisi ghareeb say pocho tu wo bataiga k daal khanay ko bhi paisay nai hai banazir margaie us k peechay croro rupay khak kardiya bhutto margaya us ghaddar jis nay mulk tora usi barsiya mun rahai hain jis mohsin nay ius mulk ko itna diya us ko hanged karo mardo musharraf sahab ko bhi liquat ai khan ki tarha tum sub zindagi bhar ghulami ki zindagi guzartay rahu pistay rahoo rotay rahoo aur in kuttay politicians ki jutiya chaat tay rahoo laanat hai is Pakistani Qaum per sud lanat”
– “Let him come and face the music.”
– “height of deeethnesssss…………….. let him came first and face teh judicial trial for breaking constitution first. very strange newsss, i must say. and how many fools are going to support him??????????????????? i dont know, and y to talk abt teh separate party, Quaid-eAzam league is here for him na…….”
– “its indeed a terrible news…v all hate him!!!”
– “Musharraf is history, irrelevant. Period. It is extremely unfortunate that the best ever chance to change the destiny of Pakistani people in 1999 came in the way of Musharraf, who was simply not capable and good enough. After 10 years, the Commando has left us in a worst possible mess that we can imagine.
The only thing that gives me hope is that we are in a rock bottom situation and the only way from here is UP.
Don’t worry about Mush, he is too drunk n busy with his “activities” in London to come back and take part in Pakistani politics. i read a recent article by Christina Lamb in The Sunday Times and here is what she wrote about our former Commando President:
“The person fingered by Bhutto, Musharraf, now lives in exile in London, accompanied everywhere by six Scotland Yard officers. Before Christmas I met him at a dinner at the home of a mutual Pakistani friend, where he lounged on the sofa, drinking whisky, smoking a fat cigar and handing out £50 notes to the singers””
– “shame on him. Do you all think that this killer and such a debauched person should lead this country?”
I think it is a great news. Because at least there would be some change and a new topic for media to talk about :)
Makes no difference to me. Another selfish bhagorra claiming to be Pakistan’s only saviour.
If he ever God forbid comes back in power, I see:
Constitution being broken / amended according to just his will
Pakistan’s major assets being gifted to people he wants
Pakistanis being sold
MQM mafia ruling Pakistan
Start of Sex TVs on demand
Liquor bars and liquor stores in every neighborhood
Govt. officials dancing like ‘tawaifs’
Kashmir cause gone
Feel free to add more things if someone wants!