ATP Poll: Musharraf Says He Will Contest Elections, Form New Party; What do You Say?

Posted on May 7, 2010
Filed Under >Adil Najam, ATP Poll, People, Politics
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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.

50 responses to “ATP Poll: Musharraf Says He Will Contest Elections, Form New Party; What do You Say?”

  1. Naime Khan says:

    Some people are so naieve, saying that Mushy should face courts! I ask which courts? Iftikhar Ch? who himself would be a party in those cases! or Should he face court of Khuaja M Shairf, who dined and accepted gifts from other sharifs, according to his own books? Or may be he should face media trial by GEO tv , which has not paid its taxes! Dr Masood should question him? who was all friendly when MD PTV was offered to him, or he should face Hamid Mir? …Who has the moral authority to question him? I would not be against Mush, only because he sang a few songs…because 90%++ of Pakistanis sing songs too… all other bullshit about lal masjid, lawyers and BB and Bugti murder, sorry but I dont buy that at all! I know majority of the Pakistani voters dont like him… but remember majority here choose people like Jamshed Dasti!

  2. Nadeem Haider says:

    Since the former president Musharraf has decided to come back to Pakistan, he must appear before the apex court and face the music. General (retd) Musharraf is planning a comeback to re-launch his political career as he must be living in some delusional world. But since he wants to ‘serve’ his country so badly, he should come back and face all that he is charged with. From a coup d’état to the murders of Baloch leaders Akbar Bugti and Balaach Marri, from dismissing the chief justice and declaring emergency to his role in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Mr Musharraf has a lot to answer for. Recent comments by former army chief General Kakar that Musharraf “committed a big mistake” by launching a military operation in Balochistan makes it pertinent that Mr Musharraf clarifies why he decided to oppress the already battered Baloch people. He also needs to tell the world why he adopted a dual policy vis-à-vis the Taliban that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently hinted at. If Mr Musharraf is ready to come back, he should also be ready to clear himself of all these and other charges before he can take part in the elections.

  3. Asim Kaleem says:

    This dictator is still living in false world sponsored by some Hippies on facebook kind of stuff ……….. where there stupid comments and praises for this so called music lover who will spend most of his time here in singing and dancing neglecting again the plight of poor, and the need of average Pakistani.

    I still remember his press conference on hiking wheat prices in those times where he replied that we should give up eating “ATTA” flour , and start eating chicken ……… what to say more …….. and also we should also not forget that he likes Minister as Yousuf something who dance in front of him like a prostitute …………. to get promotions ………

  4. Nasir Mehmood says:

    Since the former president Musharraf has decided to come back to Pakistan, he must appear before the apex court and face the music. General (retd) Musharraf is planning a comeback to re-launch his political career as he must be living in some delusional world. But since he wants to ‘serve’ his country so badly, he should come back and face all that he is charged with. From a coup d’état to the murders of Baloch leaders Akbar Bugti and Balaach Marri, from dismissing the chief justice and declaring emergency to his role in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Mr Musharraf has a lot to answer for. Recent comments by former army chief General Kakar that Musharraf “committed a big mistake” by launching a military operation in Balochistan makes it pertinent that Mr Musharraf clarifies why he decided to oppress the already battered Baloch people. He also needs to tell the world why he adopted a dual policy vis-à-vis the Taliban that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently hinted at. If Mr Musharraf is ready to come back, he should also be ready to clear himself of all these and other charges before he can take part in the elections.

  5. Shahid says:

    He has every right to come back and run in elections. We are waiting anxiously. Inshallah he will win the elections.

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