AFP/Islamabad
Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who is facing criminal proceedings, announced yesterday that his party All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) would contest local government elections.
The 71-year-old returned to Pakistan in March 2013 after four years of self-imposed exile to run in general elections, vowing to “save” the country from Taliban violence and economic ruin.
But Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999 and resigned in 2008, was barred from standing and put under house arrest over numerous criminal charges — including treason.
APML were mauled — winning only one seat — as Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) swept to power, but on Sunday Musharraf launched an audacious bid to see his party re-emerge as a force.
“We will go in local body polls with the slogan of ‘Pakistan first’ and win,” he told AMPL’s central executive committee.
Elections to elect local government representatives are expected to take place in three provinces later this year.
Musharraf, the first former army chief to be charged with treason, also predicted early general elections and directed his party to prepare for a national campaign.
Mid-term polls and an interim government in Pakistan cannot be ruled out, he said adding that the elections will be held once the incumbent government completes three years.
Musharraf, while chairing an executive committee meeting of the All Pakistan Muslim League, announced that his party will “fully take part in local government elections”, Geo News reported.
“The party is incomplete without reorganisation... however, it should be at grassroots if you want to bring it at country-wide level,” Musharraf said.
The All Pakistan Muslim League political party was founded by Pervez Musharraf in 2010.
Musharraf warned that politics in Pakistan face major challenges. He said Pakistan progressed during his tenure as president – from June, 2001 to August, 2008 – due to fair distribution of resources.
Commenting on the need of a third political power in the country, the former president favoured the idea and said: “Pakistan needs a third political power.”
He greeted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan for making efforts to emerge as a third political power.
“Change in government is to be made through change in system,” Musharraf said.
Pervez Musharraf
