Musharraf, The Only Hope for Pakistan

[Muhammad-Bin-Qasim]

Musharaf should not come to power again... We have had enough of him and the likes of him... He will sell the whole country to please the US

 

[Fasih Khan]

Taliban? that should be not a nice excuse and even his opponets taking on him if her returns.

Mind you Taliban have committed three times to get his life when he was around. Even you don't know Nawaz Sharif, what criminal record he's got.

 

[Ahmad]

Mind you Taliban have committed three times to get his life when he was around. Even you don't know Nawaz Sharif, what criminal record he's got.

well, the taliban try to kill everybody. is there any weak point or case in musharaf that the nawaz/zardari alliance could take advantage against him?

 

[Rafael]

Here you go

Imran ready to Join Pagara alliance

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has termed ‘change’ inevitable to save Pakistan from further turmoil.

He said if Pir Pagara wants to bring real change, “we are ready to mull over joining the alliance led by him”. He has also voiced support for mid-term polls under free judiciary and media and an independent election commission, addressing a press conference on Wednesday after inaugurating a party office in Model Town.

Flanked by Ahsen Rasheed, Umer Sarfaraz Cheema, Talat Naqvi and other party members, Imran Khan lambasted rulers for paying no heed to the grievances of people. Criticizing rulers for blindly following the dictates of the International Monitory Fund (IMF), he said the new tax to be imposed from October 1st was going to adds to the troubles of the poor.

To a question about Nawaz Sharif’s demand from Asif Ali Zardari to bring his money back to Pakistan, Imran Khan said that it was also necessary for Nawaz to declare his assets and provide details to the people how he had managed to make so much wealth. To a query regarding the invitation extended to him by the head of Muslim League-Functional, Pir Pagara, to join the United Muslim League, Imran replied if Pagara had any programme to change the status quo, the PTI would ponder over this proposal.

Imran ready to mull over joining Pagara alliance > Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf > Insaf News

 

[Fasih Khan]

As per Pasdar-e-Pakistan Office, Islamabad, Musharraf would be on media 7.10 PM Tonight PST. Especially on Dunya TV and ARY One World. Stay Tuned.

 

[mkiyani]

I will Vote 4 Musharaf... Better then the two PPP and Pml N... Gr8t news

 

[GUNNER]

is there any weak point or case in musharaf that the nawaz/zardari alliance could take advantage against him?

First, Nawaz and Zardari do not have an alliance. But, they have learned to live with each other, courtesy Musharraf.

Second, there are two main cases that Musharraf will have to face once he returns. One is the murder case of Sardar Akbar Bugti. This case is already in the courts but there has been little progress.

Second case is that of treason, for over throwing a constitutional government. If and when he returns, i am sure the Nawaz league would move the SC and the CJP is likely to pursue it given the history of Chief Justice and Mr Musharraf.

 

[Fasih Khan]

Great News for Pakistan Mash' Allah. I was in Lahore's meeting, It's was a real Awami Ijtamaa. Bad news for those who propagate ''he's got fans only at Face book''.

 

[smali183]

Musharaf may ekk achi bath ya sabit hwi keh us nay qoom say appni ghaltui ki mafi mang li...........good for him if he avoid from all his previouse friends

 

[Fasih Khan]

He's man enough to admit his mistakes and be honest.

 

[S.U.R.B.]

No Mushraf, No Nawaz, No Zaradri, No Altaf, NO ONE...

We need new people. people lke on PDF, well educated people !!!

Yeah! like Imran Khan.

Why we need to see somewhere else when we have our own Imran khan.

 

[SandsofTime]

Second, there are two main cases that Musharraf will have to face once he returns. One is the murder case of Sardar Akbar Bugti. This case is already in the courts but there has been little progress.

This case won't hold out unless the judiciary is highly biased. Bugti was killed when Musharraf was president. Any decision taken in that capacity is protected. Bugti was in armed rebellion and refused to surrender to state authorities, hence murder case will not hold any water in this scenario.

248. Protection to President, Governor, Minister, etc.
(1) The President, a Governor, the Prime Minister, a Federal Minister, a Minister of State, the Chief Minister and a Provincial Minister shall not he answerable to any court for the exercise of powers and performance of functions of their respective offices or for any act done or purported to be done in the exercise of those powers and performance of those functions:
[Chapter 4: General] of [Part XII: Miscellaneous]
​

Second case is that of treason, for over throwing a constitutional government. If and when he returns, i am sure the Nawaz league would move the SC and the CJP is likely to pursue it given the history of Chief Justice and Mr Musharraf.

Treason case can only be initiated by the Federal government. PPP is not in a mood to go down this path as this will be confrontation with the army. Also, Musharraf has largely kept away from criticizing the fed government for this reason. Only PML-N is interested in pursuing this path. They are now trying to sneak in a law passed allowing ordinary citizen to file a treason case. I think Nawaz hasn't learnt anything. Treason is something very serious and power to initiate cases should only remain in the hands of the federation. GOP will probably keep dangling this carrot to keep him in line but I doubt they will allow it to get passed. Only chance for this case to proceed is when PML-N comes to power. Lets wait till 2013 then.

 

[GUNNER]

Bugti was killed when Musharraf was president. Any decision taken in that capacity is protected.

248. Protection to President, Governor, Minister, etc.​

No sir. Article 248 only gives protection as long as one is holding the office, not when you are out of it.

Treason case can only be initiated by the Federal government. PPP is not in a mood to go down this path as this will be confrontation with the army. Also, Musharraf has largely kept away from criticizing the fed government for this reason. Only PML-N is interested in pursuing this path. They are now trying to sneak in a law passed allowing ordinary citizen to file a treason case.

I think Nawaz hasn't learnt anything. Treason is something very serious and power to initiate cases should only remain in the hands of the federation. GOP will probably keep dangling this carrot to keep him in line but I doubt they will allow it to get passed. Only chance for this case to proceed is when PML-N comes to power. Lets wait till 2013 then.

I agree with most of what you say. But, this case will become a political issue i am sure. PPP will be pushed publicly by the PML-N to do so. But, the implications are far wider. Becasue trying Musharraf for treason would involve a lot of other personalities, in their capacity of facilitators. This also includes the current Chief Justice technically. Along with a lot of generals. But, it will also depend on the threat level that Musharraf will pose to the two major political forces. And, right now, it isn't much.​

 

[sparklingway]

No sir. Article 248 only gives protection as long as one is holding the office, not when you are out of it.

It applies to the office not the person and any decisions taken in that office's capacity are given immunity. However, common law precedent exists on challenging executive and presidential orders that target people without giving opportunity of due justice.

 

[GUNNER]

Pakistan's Musharraf: In Search of a Political Comeback?


By Omar Waraich / Islamabad


It was a study in contrasts. Pervez Musharraf entered politics as a powerful army chief in 1999 who seized power in a bloodless coup, basically from 30,000 feet in the air as a civilian leader tried to thwart his return to the country. On Friday, the former military chief sought to make a second entry into Pakistan's rough-and-tumble political scene — but this time he was reduced to having to do so from thousands of miles away in London, to just scores of supporters, and with none of the generals and politicians he once led by his side.

The political launch opened with a rare display of humility that had eluded him during his nearly nine years in power. "I take this opportunity to sincerely apologize to the whole nation for those wrong decisions," Musharraf told his supporters, though he did not specify what those mistakes were. Then, within moments, he returned to the brusque tones that Pakistanis are better acquainted with. There was a need, he said, to "bring all patriotic people under one flag, that flag should be the All Pakistan Muslim League" — his newly founded political party, one he formed after his erstwhile supporters abandoned him.

Musharraf boasted that he remains popular back at home — an assertion many Pakistanis would dispute, though the general will proudly counter any skepticism by pointing to the 200,000 followers he has accumulated on Facebook. Musharraf said that he would be returning to Pakistan at an undecided date — echoing the old bravado with which he used to claim that he would never leave. If he ever does he return, however, he is likely to be confronted by a formidable array of opponents, all nursing bitter memories of his military rule.

Indeed, it is unlikely that Musharraf will abandon the comforts of exile in London any time soon. "I think Musharraf will remain away from Pakistan for many years," says a senior Western diplomat. Crucially, Musharraf no longer has the backing of the powerful army he once led. "There's one thing to be army chief in Pakistan, and completely another to enter politics as an ex-general," says former cricket legend turned politician Imran Khan, speaking in Islamabad. "Gen. Musharraf will notice that difference if he ever does return." The army doesn't appear keen on his return either. According to Talat Hussain, a senior Pakistani journalist who is considered familiar with the current army leadership's thinking, "The current military leadership, which has improved its image, is making every effort to distance themselves from Musharraf's legacy."

The politicians who once loyally formed his cabinet sound similarly allergic. "He has no political base here," says Aftab Sherpao, who served as interior minister under Musharraf from 2004-to 2007. "He won't be able to move around because of security risks."

Undimmed threats from a range of Islamist militants will certainly prevent Musharraf from leading political rallies. "And even the program that he's offering is what he said he'd do while in power," adds Sherpao, with a sharp note of exasperation. "He failed then, he has no chance now."

Some of Musharraf's traditional opponents express bewilderment at the former military ruler's attempt to cast himself as a new man beginning a new political life. "He's like a whore, who having reached old age, and wanting to get married, is declaring himself a virgin," says Khwaja Muhammad Asif, a leading parliamentarian from the opposition party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (who was the man who tried to keep Musharraf's plane from landing back in 1999). "It's ridiculous. This guy was both in uniform and politics for nearly nine years. He's deceiving nobody but himself."

Others are more restrained, and merely amused by the attempted political relaunch. "There was a time when I used to feel angry at the mere mention of Musharraf, after he had disposed the chief justice and suspended the constitution," says Aitzaz Ahsan, leader of the so-called lawyers' movement that shook Musharraf's regime in 2007. "Now I can only laugh. He is no Don Quixote. He's a mere Sancho Panza riding at the windmills. His party launch was the biggest non-event of the decade."

Pakistan's excitable news channels appeared to treat it as such. Instead of lavishing serious attention, one channel played a montage showing Musharraf's taste for the high life. In one scene, he was on the stage, dancing with Pakistani film stars. In another, he went toe-to-toe with a classical singer, echoing his rendition of an Urdu song. The images then returned to the relatively chastened figure of Musharraf in exile. Other channels merely showed interviews with unforgiving enemies, from former judges to nationalists from Pakistan's far western province of Baluchistan.

None of which is to say that there aren't a few Pakistanis who are yearning for Musharraf's return home. It's just that they do so for reasons very different from the ones he laid out at his press conference in London. In Baluchistan, the nationalists hope to see Musharraf tried for the assassination of Akbar Bugti, the tribal leader, whose death in 2006 set the province ablaze in protest. In the southern province of Sindh, supporters of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto hope he will be questioned about his alleged failure to provide her with adequate security, as a U.N. Commission report detailed. In Punjab, Sharif is keen to see Musharraf tried for "high treason" for mounting the 1999 coup that overthrew him and the imposition of a state of emergency in November 2007.

As some wry observers put it, with Musharraf "wanted" so much this way, the ex-dictator could prove to be a source of much-needed cohesion in a politically fractious country.


Pakistan's Musharraf: In Search of a Political Comeback? - TIME