Former President Pervez Musharraf in a video message on Saturday clarified that he has not quit politics. Musharraf said he had been planning to contest the upcoming general elections but wanted certain assurances, including that of not being arrested, the removal of lifetime disqualification and his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).
"If Khawaja Asif's lifetime disqualification can be overturned, why not mine," he asked. "If Nawaz Sharif has the freedom to move in and outside the country, why can I not have it," Musharraf said in his video message. The former president said that since those assurances were not given, he knew he could not do anything for his party or for himself and, therefore, after consultation with other APML leaders, he decided not to return to the country.
Musharraf said the decision was taken because of legal issues and that he would continue to support the party he founded. He also said that his future plan of action would be announced as things unfold and assured his followers that things will take a turn for the better.
Musharraf also requested his party to support its new chairman Dr Amjad Shoaib and Mehreen Malik Adam who has been elevated to the position of secretary general. Musharraf, who is facing a treason case among others, has not returned to the country since he left for Dubai in 2016 for medical treatment. It may be added that Musharraf resigned as the chairman of the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) a day before.
"Many right and wrong statements are being spread regarding my resignation. The reasons behind my resignation are being speculated. People do not know the truth so I thought of putting forward the reality before the nation," he said in the video. "Firstly, I want to tell that I had full intention to contest the election, return Pakistan and appear before the courts in all the cases. I was working according to this plan. However, there were some requirements to fulfil this plan," pronounced Musharraf.