Former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf (retired) on Wednesday said that he might contest elections from either NA-250 in Karachi or Chitral or both. Although, he said, the last date for submission of nomination papers (March 29) was not so far away, his party's candidates were submitting nomination forms in all provinces, adding that decision about forging electoral alliance with political parties would be taken soon.
Addressing his maiden press conference after returning to country at a local hotel here, Musharraf said that the final list of candidates would soon be provided to the media. He was assisted by just Aasia Ishaque, APML's Secretary Information, during the questions and answer session.
The former military ruler said that APML was facing strategy failures in his absence. However, he said with him at the forefront, things would be corrected and his party would adopt a successful strategy in all matters. He said that his party's office-bearers had already submitted his nomination form from Chitral.
Terming his relation with Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) "very old", he said that his ties dated back from the period of 1999-2000, adding that he hoped MQM would support him in the elections. Claiming that his party would secure seats from all over the country, Pervez Musharraf said that he had done a remarkable job during his eight-year-long regime. "Media should compare my period with this recently completed tenure of government."
He said that during his period, things were all in the positive, while everything had deteriorated during "these five years". "I have returned (to help the country) recover ... this is my life's aim now," the former Army chief maintained. Lashing out against mainstream political parties, he said that people were fed up with the PPP and PML-N, adding that both had now come into power two or three times, but failed to deliver in accordance with the people's expectations. He said that it was now time for a "third political force" to serve the nation. "I will do this job."
Comparing himself with Z A Bhutto, he said that in 1970, Bhutto Sahib came from Larkana and swept the entire country. People, he said, had voted for him for Pakistan's sake. He said that he was hoping that the same situation would be repeated during the upcoming elections and people would cast votes in the larger national interest. Answering a question about the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the former military ruler said that he had never ordered to keep Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry under house-arrest. He said that he (the chief justice) was free and there were no restrictions on the CJ or his family.
Rejecting reports about striking a deal with the government facilitating his return to the country via Saudi Arabia or any other external force, Pervez Musharraf said he had friends all over the world and if anyone had done so, it might have been done in personal capacity and not at state level, adding that he was unaware about any such news report.
Acknowledging that his welcome at his return to the country had been subdued, he said that it was because of "bad strategy" adopted by his party. He was, however, optimistic about future planning, saying that things would be better "with successful planning".
Terming the people killed in the Lal Masjid operation terrorists, Musharraf said that they were trying to establish a state within a state. According to him, China's premier had contacted him on telephone and recorded his protest when Lal Masjid elements had manhandled Chinese people in Islamabad.
He said that the Imam of Holy Kaaba and other prominent political and religious personalities had tried to negotiate with the clerics of Lal Masjid, but they refused to accept anything and continued beating up people in the federal capital. Commenting on threats to his life, Pervez Mushrraf said that he had faced threats his entire life. He boasted that he was a "commando" and was not afraid of any enemy, adding that he endured several attacks on his life and he would not leave the country because of mere threats.
Answering a question about Nawab Akbar Bugti's death, the former Army Chief said that he did not know how Bugti had been killed, adding that it also remained uncertain whether Nawab Bugti had "committed suicide" or he was killed in an attack by his own people or Pakistan Army personnel.