KARACHI: Former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf predicted on Wednesday that the country would soon see a ‘change’ in its political clime and in government, but ruled out elections in near future.

Addressing leaders and workers of his party, All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), on its fourth foundation day through video link at a hotel, he said: “Change has already begun to unfold itself. The government will also see a change. Some say there will be a national government and others see a government of technocrats or an interim setup. But change is on the way, nevertheless.”

Gen Musharraf said certain people in the PML-N government accused him of supporting Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and his party’s agenda. “The allegation is infantile and a creation of a wobbly mind. I support the truth and uprightness and at present those who are holding sit-ins in Islamabad are the ones whose stance is spot on and upright. I express my sympathies with them,” he added.

He said he wanted a change within the confines of democracy, adding that when he had formed his party four years ago he wanted to build up a third force that could introduce reforms in the country and bring about a change in people’s lives.

“Two political parties have been dominating the scene since 1990s and one of them is now ruling the country for the third time. An immediate change is needed to break their hold,” the former military ruler said, alluding to the PML-N and PPP.

He said that despite threats to his life from terrorists and ‘fake cases’ instituted against him, he returned home last year with the sole intention of serving the country.

He said he believed that a third party would emerge as winner in the 2013 elections and bring about a change in the country, but conspiracies were hatched to pre-empt a change. “I am a victim of that conspiracy because I was not allowed to contest elections and instead implicated in a ‘false high treason case’,” Gen Musharraf said.

“I am a soldier. How can a soldier who served his country and fought for it be a traitor?”

He said he believed that he would get justice in all the “false cases” instituted against him.

Not surprisingly, he had an olive branch to offer to the government when he said he would support Nawaz Sharif’s government if it brought about prosperity in the country. “I may differ with him on personal grounds, but not at the cost of the country’s betterment and prosperity.”

Gen Musharraf thanked a delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement that came to listen to his speech.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2014