“Now or Never!”
Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf is set to return to Pakistan on March 24, just a week after the dissolution of assemblies.
If the timing is significant, it’s because Musharraf isn’t coming here on a private visit to meet family and friends – the former president announced on March 1, 2013 that he plans to contest parliamentary elections as the leader of his party, the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML).
“When I look at these conditions that the country is in, I know that my return to Pakistan is crucial. And I will return to my beloved country,” he said at a press conference in Dubai. “Now or never, now or never!”
With this announcement, however, arise a number of considerations – the various cases pending against him, the viability of his party performing well in the polls, the size of his support base and the kind of political drama that could take place once he steps foot on Pakistani soil – not to mention the spectre of violence.
First, the cases: The former military leader has been implicated in the assassinations of Benazir Bhutto as well as Nawab Akbar Bugti. On top of that is his involvement in the Lal Masjid operation. Then of course, the government has scrambled to start the process for lodging a high treason case against the ex-president, currently living in self-imposed exile.
These cases can not be looked at in terms of legal repercussions alone. The Senate was both thrown into an uproar earlier this week, soon after Musharraf made his dramatic announcement.
Senator Raza Rabbani, of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) reminded the lawmakers that a resolution had been adopted unanimously last year to try Musharraf for treason.
Musharraf’s supporters, of course do not take well to such reminders. Many believe that Pakistan, at a low point as far as peace, security, and tolerance are concerned, would be best handled by a man like Musharraf.
Many people also fear, however, that Pakistan could be thrown into chaos with the arrival of such a controversial figure at such a sensitive time, especially considering the obstacles Musharraf will face in his quest to contest elections without a word of dissent.
Considering this imbroglio that Musharraf is to involve himself in the minute he lands, as well as the receding popularity of APML, should he return to Pakistan? Is it worth the possible price?
And is he even a viable electoral candidate? Musharraf has never come to power via parliamentary elections before. And this time, he plans to enter them with a lot of legal baggage.
if he comes back, i fear he would meet the same destiny as BB did.
He is so unpredictable.
He should come back to our country and then we should hang him like Bhutto for the horrible mess that he created in the country.
Musharaf lived an army-life,he should live a retired-army-man life.No pro-democratic man would love to see him again dictating Pakistan.Let him come,should be tried for treason.
If there is any rule of law, this guy should be arrested as soon as he enters the borders of Pakistan.
A true statesman, he will of course return I have no doubt at all. God bless Pak and Musharaf!!!
I believe that he do good for the country atleast keep corruption under some what control.
Any body can come back to Pakistan. It is everybody’s fundamental right. But he should not be elected for any public position. The mess we are in today is result of Zia-ul-Haq’s and his policies.
why cant he simply become a elder statesman . he would gain respect if he becomes stops taking part in elections and comes on various TV shows like sheikh rashid etc .
THE NATION IS IN PERPLEXED SITUATION AND LOST THE HOPE/TRUST FROM POLITICAL LEADERSHIP……………. THE NATIONS REVOLUTION………..
looking for revolution not evolution of political stability……
I have watched Musharaf’s interviews he admitted his mistakes all I know is I m very hopeful, rest only Allah knows.
May the Almighty guide all of us to walk on “SIRATUL MUSTAQEEM.
In todays khutba the Imam of our masjid in Corona California spoke about our religion to be moderate then I wonder what r we all doing he also told us to ” LIVE LIFE LIKE U R GOING TO LIVE FOREVER BUT PREPARE FOR THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT LIKE THIS IS YOUR LAST DAY” do I need to say any more, InshaAllah that day will come very soon when everyone will see peace in Pakistan.
There are some aspects of Musharraf phenomena which did not get mentioned above ;
1- Should any factor however big be allowed to justify illegal takeovers and abrgation of consitution which he did twice? Yes or no. If no then he must be tried and put in prison for treason.
2- When his performance of 8 years was not sufficient to erase people support of mainstaream parties which he made his mission to eleiminate , then he resorted to biggest bribe in the history of the conutry that is NRO.Why should he be given a second chance after what he did to the country ?
3- His support is limited to English reading elite and face book crowd only . But even with popular support should we compromise principles big time. My answer is no.
He is being trapped.He should be careful as every one will leave him and he would be left alone to face innumerable miseriies and problems..He threatened to come before also but changed his mind.Let see how determined is he this time..May be lawyers like me make money out of him..He has no chance what so ever.
I can bet that if USA starts distributing free Visas to you all, you will sell all your stuff and leave Pakistan and pledge allegiance to the red white and blue. We should face our problems and not run away from them. Musharraf should be allowed to come back. We have a free judiciary now, as we Pakistani’s believe, so why not use it and not throw away our tax money. He made mistakes, but who hasn’t, even Z.A Bhutto made mistakes though we choose to ignore them and call him the greatest hero of all time. Pakistan progressed in all directions during his time he should be given credit for it.
Because of his military back ground, he only knows giving orders and respecting orders and lacks the art of negotiating with others which is an essential part of politics in the subcontinent. Even if he contests, it is unlikely that his party will come to power. He may face a lot of political wrath also.
But people of Pakistan need to understand that, he is the only person who can set right the law and order situation which Pakistan needs most at this juncture rather than the economic growth. He is a clever man, leave the things to him.
I supported Musharraf from his first minute in the office to his last, but I won’t vote for him now. We simply have better options now. We have people as honest and sincere as him but more courageous. His recent comments on Iran-Pakistan pipeline once again demonstrate that deep down inside he is very frightened .of the Farangis. It is this fear that made him do two shameful things, handing over of the Afghan ambassador to the Americans and false accusations against Dr. AQ Khan. I do support his action on Bugti and Lal Masjid.
I read all the comments below and found that over whelming majority is in favor of Musharraf. I also noticed that for all the favorable comments, the number of thumbs-up is far greater than thumbs-down.
It is very encouraging to notice that. It makes me wonder if it is only the educated and intellectual people who are in favor of Musharraf or the general public is that way. If the general public is in favor of Musharraf, he will perform well in the elections.
If educated people are so much in favor of Musharraf, they should help him in every possible way in the elections. Being in silent majority will not do much. The only thing of consequence is what we do.
I think he should return to Pakistan. His term was good. Although he did made some mistakes but, had also learned from those mistakes.
He seem to had a military mindset of commanding, which need to change. You cannot command a nation. Being said that in the last could of years from his speeches and disucssion he had show flexibility. He seem to be a man who learns and accept his mistakes and that are the type of people we need. People to have courage to accept and learn their mistakes.
He should get a change in Pakistan politics however, it is important that he maintained his integrity.
Musharraf is the cause of the problems we are facing in our country now. He is hiding in comfortable London, using our country’s money. If he returns, he should be tried and hung like Z. Bhutto.
PPP became powerfull when it was treated unjustly and bhutto was assisnated
if musharraf is arrested it will be seen as political and support for him could swell could the established parties make a martyr out of him or will they just bear with him as a thorn in thier side
I think Pakistani people do not need his presence in the country. Whatever he did harm in the past that’s enough, Pakistan at this time in need of a dedicated patriotic politician who at any cost can uphold the integrity and sovereignty of the country. Pakistan expects and can embrace the only politician at this time who can prove his uncompromising well balanced leadership and dedication to bring the nation back from every chaos and confusions.
This may be a good sermon, but where this man will come from? and who he is? Mr. perfect is not on the planet earth! A patriotic politician in Pakistan – never seen one yet?
he did not harm the country . the people who harmed the country were the politicians who just completed their evil tenure . these guys ruined every thing and kept looting the treasury till the last minute . imagine they had to keep the banks open on a holiday so that they could take away what ever was left in the treasury and you mr razaqque are running down musharraf who stabilized the economy and did so many good things for the country .
Pervez Musharraf for PM:)
If I were in his place I would have never come back. What is more precious than life and to try something so daring at such a late stage. But may be love of the nation is strong (which is something very difficult to swallow) that he wants to put his life at risk. If he is good the majority of the leaders which have a proven track record of corruption won’t let him take a single breath in Pakistan. It is almost impossible for a good person to find any space in pakistani politics
Unfortunately Pakistan has reached the lowest depth of instability possibly in the entire world. The only thing good is left in Pakistan is its Nuclear Arms and its Brave Army. Its all political and religious leaders are a shame for this country seeing the killings and bombings and sectarian violence that is going on, on a daily basis. The only glimpse of hope for Pakistan is a leader with military background to use his experience, judgment and support of military to save Pakistan and not consensus from those who have absolutely no clue how to save Pakistan. There is one glimpse of hope that may be, Musharraf will save Pakistan and possibly he will be the last person to save Pakistan.