Dubai: Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday announced he is planning a political return to power.
“I am ready to lead the grand alliance of the political parties who are fed up with the politics of Pakistan Muslim League and Pakistan Peoples Party,” Musharraf told media yesterday in Dubai at the makeshift office of his All Pakistan Muslim League (APML).
The APML currently holds just one seat in the Pakistan’s lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, and has no seats in the higher house, the Senate. Musharraf was barred from contesting the last elections, held in 2013, due to ongoing court cases against him.
The 73-year-old strongman-in-exile came to Dubai on health grounds last year, and currently lives in the city.
Musharraf announced the political alliance after some leaders of minor religious and political parties met him at his residence in Dubai on Tuesday and asked him to lead what they termed as a “grand political alliance”. Some of the leaders who met him belong to minor parties including Awami League Sunni Ittehad Council, Muttahida Wahdadat-i-Muslimeen, Muslim League-Junejo and Pakistan Mazdoor Ittehad. APML secretary general Dr Mohammad was also present.
On tensions with neighbours, such as Afghanistan, Musharraf said the dialogue was needed. “We need to follow our own interest,” he said.
“We need to get into a discussion with them, and resolve whatever they have against us, tell them what we have against them, and sit together and try to resolve. This is the only way, diplomatically moving forward.”
In reply to a question, Musharraf said he would welcome the fact if the current elected government is dismissed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan through JIT (Joint Investigation Team).
He didn’t announce any specific date to return to Pakistan and said he would definitely go back after he succeeds in making the “grand alliance”.
