Not running away from Pakistan, says Pervez Musharraf
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RAWALPINDI: Breaking the silence after nearly three months, former president Pervez Musharraf said he would not be running away from Pakistan.
"I am not running away from Pakistan. Rather, I will defend [myself] in all cases against me before a court of law," General (retired) Musharraf said to supporters gathered in Islamabad as he spoke via telephone.
"I have to go out of Pakistan only to see my ailing mother and will return back to you," he said to the gathering.
He said the cases against him are politically motivated and baseless.
He also lamented the current economic situation and claimed that when he resigned in 2008, the country had $18 billion reserves as compared to only $4 billion to $5billion today.
He condemned the Model Town incident and condoled with the families of those who had lost their lives.
Earlier, a convention of the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) elected Musharraf as chairman of the party for the next term.
Govt under pressure to allow Musharraf's departure, says PML-N Senator
Earlier on Sunday, a senior government leader has admitted that the government is under immense pressure to remove the name of former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf from the Exit Control List (ECL) and let him go abroad.
"There is pressure on the government to allow General Musharraf to leave Pakistan," Leader of the House in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq told the media in Rawalpindi.
The former president is currently residing in Karachi where he is receiving treatment at PNS Shifa after undergoing a heart ailment in the midst of the treason trial initiated by the incumbent government against him.
Analysts feel the friction between the government and military leadership is a result of the government's pursuance of the Musharraf treason trial.
Calls for anti-government protests lead by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT)chief Tahirul Qadri have unnerved Nawaz Sharif's fledgling civilian government as the country has a history of coups and street protests.
Some members of the ruling party fear the protesters may be getting support from elements in the military, which has had a series of disagreements with the government. The military denies meddling in politics.
Zafarul Haq rejected speculations that the government will be sent packing and said it would complete its five-year tenure at any cost.
"PM Nawaz Sharif will not step down and there is no reason for aiming for this move," Haq said.
A close aide of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Raja Zafarul Haq also chairman of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N).
Various ministers in the recent past had been saying that there was no pressure on the government to remove Musharraf's name from the list that bars citizens from leaving the country.
The decision of the Sindh High Court which directed the interior ministry to remove the former dictator's name from the ECL was challenged by the federal government in the Supreme Court.
The apex court is yet to issue a final decision in this regard, however it has suspended the high court order.
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Comments (62) Closed
Aug 10, 2014 01:37pm
Pml nooras are just trying to get away from Azadi march by hook or crook, this statement is one of those.
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Aug 10, 2014 01:44pm
The logical reasoning for this particular matter requires an in-depth and insightful handling by the Government, Pakistan cannot afford such tactics of avenging the high-profile and high-headed personnel officer of an esteemed and admired institution of Pakistan. Though, it is hard to determine the covert motives of the few within the ruling cadre, nonetheless it is pertinent to mention that the way Ex-Army Chief has been entangled in legal procedures in Pakistan, it is eminent that certain factors are trying to rein the arguable judicial system in Pakistan.
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Aug 10, 2014 01:52pm
Shame, shame, shame. Come on our so called leaders. If the issue is and was of principle, then come forward and make sacrifices. If it was not principle then go home with shame.
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Aug 10, 2014 01:53pm
Musharraf was a real leader in whose term the poor & commoners enjoyed best. Gone are the days when a US dollar was equal to Rs.60/67 during Musharraf era. Musharraf cannot be stopped no hurdle can stop this ex president from living as a free man. out of revenge false cases are being fabricated against him, what ever decision he took in the past had approval of the peoples
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Aug 10, 2014 01:58pm
A day of photo session with Army Chief and next day blame game. PMLN's confusion is too dangerous now for Pakistan. Time to send its govt packing, not by Army but by legal means and for that PMLN parliamentarians will have to show their love for Pakistan instead of NS.
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Aug 10, 2014 02:04pm
Yes. Just like N-League completed its previous 5 year tenures. They'll never learn.
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Aug 10, 2014 02:12pm
While the army loves its country the politics love its wealth.
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Aug 10, 2014 02:27pm
this is a battle of wits and nerves between powers that be. Imran khan & PTI have little role to play and neither does the half cooked
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Aug 10, 2014 02:34pm
Nawaz Sharif...free this bird...you won't regret it... :-)
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Aug 10, 2014 02:52pm
Non-issue and non-sense statement by Raja Zafarulhaq to divert attention from Azadi march. PML N govt is failing Pakistan once again.
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Aug 10, 2014 02:59pm
In order to remain in power, this could be the last card Nawaz has to let Musharraf go and get support of the army. There is no guarantee but no harm in trying.
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Aug 10, 2014 03:02pm
@M J Syed
Really, Mir jafar and Mir Sadaq were the sons of Syed scholar from Najaf, Iraq!
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Aug 10, 2014 03:03pm
Sir,
A decade in exile has not been able to end the childish streak in Mian Nawaz Sharif and he is back to his childish ways.
Pakistan army is fighting for the survival of Pakistan and on the other hand the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif does not have maturity to act responsibly and is creating one issue after another.
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Aug 10, 2014 03:03pm
@Ahmed USA
Syed Musharaf should be hanged like any ordinary criminal.
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Aug 10, 2014 03:13pm
It was in poor taste and a big political mistake to try Musharaff. There was no need. It wastes effort and energy and will bring nothing to Pakistan.
Nawaz should of moved on. After all he was no saint in the events that brought is downfall.
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Aug 10, 2014 03:13pm
Send Musharraf to Bangladesh. In 1971 his SSG company was involved in war criminal activities in Chittagong, Comilla, Dhaka regions. Sheikh Hashina will put Musharraf with the other war criminal Jamaat leaders.
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Aug 10, 2014 03:15pm
He must stay in pakistan, may be have some role to.play after 14 August
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Aug 10, 2014 03:33pm
Another diversion from the burning issues, how naive of them.
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Aug 10, 2014 03:40pm
I thought he is already abroad. Isn't he in Karachi?
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Aug 10, 2014 03:48pm
Apex court is waiting for instructions from PMLN?
No
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Aug 10, 2014 04:04pm
Lier,He also lamented over state of economy and claimed that when he resigned in 2008, the country had $18billion reserves as compared to only $4 billion to $5bn left now.NOW FOREIGN RESERVE REACHED OVER 12 $ BILLION WITHIN A YEAR.
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Aug 10, 2014 04:12pm
musharaff would must be met with his fate,Insha ALLAH
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Aug 10, 2014 04:13pm
@Lucky Star - "hanged like any ordinary criminal". What are you talking about...what did he do? Anyway, "ordinary criminals" don't get hanged only serious ones do like the perpetrators of Model Town murderers.
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Aug 10, 2014 04:24pm
I personally loved it when General Musharaff, whose party incidentally, is the only one to elect its leadership, as there was safety, jobs, opportunity and less corruption and less loss of life. In Pakistan we need strong leadership from CAPABLE people. Looking forward to leading million men march for APML- The Winds of Change are coming- and soon a pleasant breeze of calmness will once again be around us.
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Aug 10, 2014 04:25pm
Its great to hear from you. You are true leader and Pakistan needs you badly.
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Aug 10, 2014 04:33pm
@M J Syed Very true
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Aug 10, 2014 04:38pm
well, Gen.Musharraf always in the heart of people, he done better than this government do and the prior government.
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Aug 10, 2014 04:44pm
Mr. M haider, if musharaf or some other unifirm will back in few months or years, you and people like you will again start begging in front ogf them. Every one know charactor of news reporter, news paper & their operators. Good cheap article.
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Aug 10, 2014 05:19pm
About time he broke his silence. The worst thing one can do is, not defend themselves. Pakistani politics at the moment is "dhandorchi and tablay bazon ki politics". You cannot wait for fire to die out, you got to tackle it. Its about time all democratic political parties combine together. Nawaz Sharif and Co must never be allowed back in politics and this goes against Zardari and Co, Fazlur Rehman and Other establishment backed tossers. If 18 crore people stood up today, no one would need martial law or armys help. Its time Pakistanis make a decision, whether to support ignorance or to stand up for their right.
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Aug 10, 2014 05:21pm
Isn't this the way things work in Pakistan; first Benazir and Mr 50% were allowed to leave despite all proof of corruption agains them; then Sharif himself was let go and now it should be Musharraf's turn. isn't it only fair ? or atleast he has not stolen billions from country's coffers like so many others.
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Aug 10, 2014 05:45pm
mushraaf is a man of his words, an honest man, not like the shareef brothers who u turn what they promised before the election to the people - hyprocrates
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Aug 10, 2014 06:10pm
Can this man be believed? I would not.
Is he not the same commando who sold his country to America with a small arm twisting.
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Aug 10, 2014 06:17pm
He has condemned the model town incident in which eight people died, a very honorable deed.
Forgetting that he himself was responsible for death of hundred of children in Islamabad in his regime. The Lal Masjid fiasco.
When he is going to take the responsibility and condemn himself.
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Aug 10, 2014 06:24pm
@M. Emad
i fully endorse the recommendation.
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Aug 10, 2014 06:49pm
I miss Musharraf, the best leader Pakistan ever had. Love you Sir. We need you to get rid of incompetent rulers.
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Aug 10, 2014 07:33pm
After late Field Marshal Ayub Khan, General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, was the best leader Pakistan ever had. We have seen in the last six years, what we hoped we would never see, rampant corruption, nepotism, and unprecedented losses to the national exchequer. We need President Musharraf back, to mentor and groom a cadre of bright young Pakistanis, that can take the country forward, and lead from the front, like he is willing to do, again for his motherland.
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Aug 10, 2014 07:42pm
Musharraf if allowed to leave Pakistan should not make the mistake to come back till all the cases are dropped against him.
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Aug 10, 2014 08:07pm
@abdul manan : 2 things for your consideration... 12 billion is still less than 18 billion AND there is a difference between foreign exchange reserves created by economic activity versus borrowed from IMF and Saudi Arabia.
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Aug 10, 2014 08:07pm
@fida sayani Neither did he "sold Pakistan" when he gave the US two airbases(that were previously used to "entertain" the Sheikhs of UAE) only for logistics and reconnaissance after consultation with all the political players including Imran Khan, nor did he killed a single child in Lal mosque. Stop spreading these lies & conspiracy theories about women and children getting killed in Lal mosque, even his archest of enemies(ex-CJ Iftikhar Ch. and his cronies) were unable to prove that. The Judicial Commission Report on Lal Masjid - 2013 clearly stated that there were no women and children killed, only 92 militants got what they deserved!!!
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Aug 10, 2014 08:16pm
Country needs Musharraf at this critical juncture.
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Aug 10, 2014 08:19pm
All court cases lodged against General Musharaf need to be dropped immediately and he should be a free man to go any where in the world or participate in the politics with in the country. His decision to combat terrorism was in the best interest of Pakistan. What personal enmity the General had with those terrorists who got killed during various actions by the LEAs?
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Aug 10, 2014 08:19pm
I hope the govt. does not let Musharraf leave. It is unfortunate that his mother is ill but that is no reason to allow him to leave. An example should be made of the most harmful institution in our history. Our armed forces are responsible for derailing democracy, injecting corruption, oppressing and killing the peoples of Pakistan, and splitting our country in two. Pak forces have been incapable to do the one thing they are meant to - protect the people of Pakistan and defend our borders. Musharraf represents this callous and arrogant attitude which has lead to our failure. Nothing will make me happier than to see him hanged, or at the very least imprisoned for life.
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Aug 10, 2014 08:27pm
Biased Judiciary and a vile government are always a danger.
This country has had a history of insulting any individual that has done well for the country.
Pervez Musharraf is and always will be a true visionary and patriot.
Shame on anti-Musharraf elements and shame on the so called rule of law.
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Aug 10, 2014 08:28pm
There is a saying that it is lucky for cat that yogurt bowl has broken.
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Aug 10, 2014 08:42pm
Had Mr. Musharraf stayed in power for another 10 years, this country would have been well positioned to compete with established nations. Too bad we didn't recognize this true leader and treating him like crap.
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Aug 10, 2014 08:43pm
PML-N has wasted its time, energy on Pervez Musharaf. It is better for them to let him go out. The more u keep him he is getting more popular again because his tenure was much better than today's. He had a vision and was developing the country from grass root level. PML-N should be careful about his comeback. So, don't increase his stature by keeping him in Pakistan for no reason. Remember he was not alone in his actions.
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Aug 10, 2014 09:35pm
@Harmony
Here u go, another relative of Musharraf. Musharraf is responsible for everything from War on Terror to creation of Talaban's mess.
Bowing to American pressure was his biggest blunder.
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Aug 10, 2014 09:45pm
@Masoud : You are talking the army or any dictator language. Immediate gain means nothing. Long tern stability and cash reserve is the solution. What you are saying is against the constitution of Pakistan. Think about it.
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Aug 10, 2014 09:49pm
Local govt system was his best gift for the nation. Which broke the back of feudal lords. Given power to common people of Pakistan.
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Aug 10, 2014 10:03pm
@Masoud - it is the exchanngebifbtebcurrency but unflation is what matters. Ifbu use exchange rate as yard stick then all beforebmusharaf were the best and that includes Nawaz Sharif. Please my fellow Pakistanis become objective and look at what laws Musharaf broke when he took over. Nonone should be above the law if u want a better Pakistan
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Aug 10, 2014 10:09pm
What did Musharraf do so bad that the so-called "Politicians" have not done already, and ten times as bad? In fact, Musharraf did comparatively very well and his rule in Pakistan is remembered and missed!
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Aug 10, 2014 11:57pm
@Ali
100% agreed, May Allah show light to these selfish, self-centered leaders talking about long marches and revolutions and using innocent young minds for their own nefarious purposes without any regard to human sufferings on the streets.
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Aug 11, 2014 12:31am
Now that Nawaz Sharif is facing the door out, there is no reason for Musharraf to run away. All the more reason to return back to Pakistan.
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Aug 11, 2014 02:00am
If Nawaz Sharif is not so blinded by the revenge motive; he should let Musharraf go. I am not saying whether he is guilty or not. Who cares? When a patient (Paksitan) is dying of cancer and you are worried about curing his headaches? What kind of leadership is that? Mush is a problem that could be/would be/ must be solved in a country which is functioning normally. But, in Pakistan? Give me a break. Don't you have URGENT existential problems that need all your attention and then some?
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Aug 11, 2014 04:01am
It is hoped he get permission see his mother and come back for the trail.
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Aug 11, 2014 06:00am
Long live Musharraf, the true patriot, and a hero of Pakistan.
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Aug 11, 2014 08:30pm
Criminals like him should be treated as per law and all future doors for mis adventurers closed for ever.
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Aug 12, 2014 05:22pm
@Hussain
That money we get by doing a mercenary job. Please understand Musharraf is not equivalent to army or Pakistan. The world knows Pakistan by it's leader Nawaz Shariff.
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Aug 12, 2014 06:21pm
@M. Emad you can talk..
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Aug 12, 2014 07:31pm
Sharif's will never learn. They had been outside the country too long. they thought people of Pakistan are still living in the 90s with no knowledge of whats going on and can be fooled easily. that's not the case Mr. Sharif you are only going to learn the lesson the hard way.
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Aug 12, 2014 10:13pm
Wasn't he in London for a long time? The power hungry can't get enough, want's a second go at it.
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Aug 12, 2014 11:41pm
Nawaz should resign & let new elections under new electoral commission& under Army supervision.
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