Only time will tell if he actually has tangible support from the masses at the grass roots level and the real voters in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. His fate as a future leader rests with the people of Pakistan, in particular the voters of the constituency from where he will contest the up-coming elections on Saturday, May 11, 2013. Unbiased history is testimony to the fact that entering the political arena and hanging in there for an army general in any country of the world is not a cake walk and the 'land of the pure' is no exception to it. Nevertheless, at least he has shown the courage, far sightedness and the fortitude to end his self-imposed foreign exile and return to his homeland after a significant period of four-and-a-half-years. That's indeed a positive sign. On the other hand, the blunders he had made both at the domestic as well as global fronts during his time as the head of the ruling junta in Pakistan are definitely going to haunt him for rest of his life including his current stay in Karachi. Beside the uncalled for and unwarranted blood shed of many innocent people at the famous 'Red Masjid' in Islamabad, his biggest blunder was to toe the line and submit to the so-called 'eight demands' of the Bush administration on September 12, 2001 over a short telephone call. This was also confirmed and testified by the former Secretary of State Colin Powell before the U.S. Congress and is now part of the historical data at the U.S. Congress library. On top of that, he did not please very many people when he granted the Bush administration a 'blank check' to transgress, invade, destroy and occupy the land and people of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the guise of the so-called 'war on terror' during which they also employed inhuman tactics like carpet bombing and using cluster as well as daisy cutter bombs on the hapless and helpless civilian population resulting in the unnecessary killings of thousands of innocent men, women and children, which was later on termed as 'collateral damage' by the ex Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld. Last but not the least, as confirmed before the U.S. Congress by members of its team, the Bush administration gave at least $12 billion to General Musharraf as the so-called 'aid' basically for letting them do what they did and are still doing in Afghanistan, as well as in the North West Frontier and FATA regions of Pakistan including drone attacks, when he was at the helm. Unfortunately, that huge sum was never accounted for in a fair and free audit by independent and third party auditors and auditing professionals. In all fairness, it is the same money, either as a part or a whole, that he is currently spending not only to enter politics but to also live a lavish life in some of the most expensive places in the world. Hopefully, his voters know all this and will use their votes wisely and carefully. Will he win or lose in the upcoming elections? I leave the answer of this intriguing and interesting question to the enlightened, educated, excelling and enduring readers of this great 'Dawn' readers and writers.

Former President Musharraf, is inshallah going to be the catalyst for a positive change in the country. Every one know, Pakistan had one of the fastest growing economies in the world during his tenure, and where are we today, the incompetent, corrupt government that is just leaving, has left the treasury, with just enough money to pay the salaries of government employees for two months, we have defaulted on IMF loans, and have been declared by the international community, as being the most unstable and dangerous country on the planet. Our prayers are with General Musharraf and Imran Khan. These two gentlemen, working together, can restore Pakistan to the pristine state it once was. Our prayers are with them.

This is to the shear bad luck and misfortune of the country that a person who must be tried for treason and treachery to the country, army and constitution is being asked to be given protocol and security. I would strongly suggest that Supreme Court and CJ take a suo moto and not only put Musharraf behind the bars but also ask army about writing such instructions. He is no ex president but a shame to army, Pakistan and constitution. According to the constitution, he must be hanged after a public prosecution. I wish army could understand what great damage such monsters had been doing to this sacred institution and the state.

only he can save pakistan from the terrorists and criminals, the enemies will try to kill him until he is dead, since he is a big danger for the foreign intelligences and RAW terror agents, and currupt government and politicians in Pakistan...

WELCOME BACK HOME

Yes may allah guide you because you dont know what you are talking about. PM is the only one who can save Pakistan. So please go and check out your facts first.

May Allah guide you also. A lot of tohers have also brought misfortune to the country. My freind first make dua and ask the justice to come froward for those coward, corrupt and criminals who were the also the perperators of injustices and violation of constitution many times and who are still vying to rule Pakistan after they have been tried many times. My freind Musharraf may have committed some mistakes but still his goverment was far better than the goverments that preceded his..

He was out of the country and everyone knows that he has little support in the country though outside the country he has accumlated very good support. You are right it will not be a cake walk for him. But he is a man who do understand and can interpret for what the country needs. Very few rulers in the world might not have comitted any blunders. History is there to peek into. There were times when you had to come into terms with imperial powers as a defense strategy. Forwarding your hand and accepting charity has been the Forte of almost all the rulers in our country. American influence for America's own benifit has long existed in Pakistan starting in 1950s. If the rulers failed to understand this then we as a nation also failed to stop this influence. And still today on the very first opportunity anyone will choose US, to be the country to move into. Lal Masjid and the battle that took place spoke for itself .Why on earth? For what? so many gun totting masked people in a madarsa or a religuos place needed. Mind you please .Who you would be voting for? Do you have anyone whom you will vote is running their politics whithout their out of the coutnry funds. These are now old statements. If you want all this not to happen then you have to change yourself.

Can you please expand upon which source you got this information from that he's using the $12B to finance his political party? You may not know but President Musharraf earns $200,000 for each lecture that he gives - his salary is among the world's elite group of lecturers including Bill Clinton. As per the "lavish" lifestyle, he owns a 3-bedroom flat in London on top of a shwarma place - not quite as lavish as Raiwind or Bilawal House. Hope you make an informed decision.

Dear Dr Ahmad please note Musharraf is the 2nd highest earner in the world giving lectures all over the world where people listen to him and he stands up for his country.Unlike our current politicians who cant even speak up or stand up for the country. our people do not see the truth how was country performing before he came to power and how we progressed under him and where we are now after he left.

Musharraf is traitor, he has been giving sensitive information to the western governments. I have personally seen him being treated like a VVIP at Heathrow Airport by the British police. Normally the British don't gove a toss about us Pakis. So why was he treated like a King.

He need to be arrested and promptly Hanged in Islamabad for crimes against Pakistani Nation and Muslims.

Why is it that in Pakistan so many heads of state like President Zardari and many others are always too often accused of corruption but never proven guilty or even tried in a court of law .Could it be that the accusers , the accused and the courts are all one and the same , one accusing but also protecting the other so that the accusers bad deeds too stay un covered ? Or could it be that the accusations are totally false? Before Zardari became president he was held as an accused in Pakistani prisons but never tried or proven guilty.The same goes for many others including Musharaf , Zia and Ayub Khan.

If their is any hope for Pakistan it is Musharraf,

Musharaff is an honest leader, he cares and fight for Pakistan. He has many good qualities. He did not loot Pakistan like other politicians.

Please for God Sake, dont be so harsh in deciding the fate of any person, and i request you to just pray and work for the development of the country, This country is already facing numerous challenges just play your part.

He is courageous leader, he proved that he does not care about the cowered terrorists, may Allah safe his life. May Allah bless him

Dawn can you do something about the response by readers to columns. Black numbers on a black background cannot be read by people with poor eyesight.

He is treated like a VVIP because he is a VVIP - Any ex-President of the State is given that protocol. You aren't, or weren't, so you'll never get that protocol. He was, and he is, so he always will be treated like a VVIP. He has earned that respect.

Musharaf will save the country from impending disaster. His honesty and die hard attitude and sense of justice for all is unmatched by any other person

Another One comes to take his share Bounty . These Frauds can never get enough. Long Live Pakistan.

Mr Musharaf, Noose knot is waiting for you. long live judiciary!

Mr. Musharraf, the former military dictator of Pakistan, should be given normal opportunity to canvass and convince, in the forthcoming general elections. Long live Pakistan and all support for democracy there!

how many lectures has he delivered and what are the costs of running a political party??

There were over 3000+ Pak Army casualties due to his 'mis-adventure' in the Kargil operation. Also, dont forget about the unconstitutional measures he implemented in the country to extend his own rule which we are still paying the price. He had signed all paperwork to hand over our national hero Dr. AQK but it was PM Mir Zafarullah Jamali who blocked it.

I wish Musharraf had a clean clean shirt which has 2 or 3 bad spots cannot be washed by any dry cleaner may be time will wash them away if so he would be the man we are looking for, nations always have short memories.

So a former President being given VVIP security means he was giving sensitive information to Western govts? So according to your logic, President Bush must be giving Pakistan very sensitive information because he was given VVIP treatment when he came to Pakistan. Please open up your narrow-minded thinking.