Musharraf 'will not enter politics'

Islamabad: Former ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q stalwart Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said yesterday that former president Pervez Musharraf had no intention to engage in politics.

He confirmed to reporters that he along with the president of the party, Chaudhry Shaujaat Hussain, had held a meeting on Friday with Musharraf at his residence in Rawalpindi.

Elahi, who heads the party in Punjab which he ruled as chief minister before the PML-Q defeat in February general election, said they had met the former president to apprise him that his name was being used by "rebel" elements in the party.

The Chaudhrys are currently battling attempts by hostile lawmakers within the party trying to change the leadership through snap party elections. Elahi said Musharraf had emphatically stated that he would not enter politics and that he would himself inform the public about his decision through the media.

The former Punjab chief minister said the "rebels" in the party would not succeed in their designs and the party elections.