Musharraf will lead Pakistan against ‘tsunami of corruption’

LONDON: A key aide of former president Pervez Musharraf has said that the masses across the length and breadth of Pakistan have welcomed the launch of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) and the party’s membership drive had received a tremendous response.

In an interview with Jang/The News here, General (R) Rashid Qureshi, who is Musharraf’s spokesperson and a key strategist, revealed that parliamentarians from all parties including Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League (N) had welcomed the launch of Pervez Musharraf’s party and had assured of their support. Qureshi said that APML is not just another addition to the long list of political parties. “Our agenda is crystal clear. We want to serve Pakistan, not our personal interests.” After the formal launch of AMPL in London, where Pervez Musharraf is living in self-exile after leaving Pakistan, Qureshi said that Musharraf decided to go ahead with the party launch after he was inundated with messages of support from his supporters, especially the youth, who can clearly differentiate now that Pakistan was on the upward move under the rule of Musharraf, but going downhill since the election into power of Pakistan People’s Party.

Qureshi said that the feeling was sweeping the country that the current political system was geared towards meeting the needs of a selected few and their blue-eyed coterie, at the cost of Pakistan’s poor.

“APML is determined to lift Pakistan from the prevalent chaos and get it’s true potential recognised in the world as was the case under Pervez Musharraf. “Corruption, plunder and nepotism have forced Pakistanis to think hard about their future and they are not satisfied with the pace and nature of the current order. They are vying for change,” said Qureshi.

He agreed that most of Musharraf’s supporters are middle class people but they seldom vote therefore the challenge is to get these people engaged in the political process for change. Qurteshi said that Musharraf is the only leader of Pakistan who has more than two lakh followers on the popular networking site Facebook.

“This number is only of urban youth, the support in rural areas is squally strong. The task now is to bring this support base into a party structural loop and into an electoral force,” said Qureshi, adding that Musharraf was heartened by the outpouring of support from the youth of Pakistan.

Responding to a question regarding Musharraf’s comeback, Qureshi said, “Musharraf would return soon and would fix the date for his return himself. Musharraf is committed to going back to Pakistan. The decision is up to him, he will go back soon and you will see him participating in elections and leading the people against the tsunami of corruption unleashed on Pakistan,” said the retired general, who has stood by Musharraf through thick and thin.

Musharraf has several cases pending against him in courts across Pakistan, and the UN enquiry commission’s report also held his regime responsible for the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in December 2007. He has been directly blamed for ordering the killing of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti.

He said the UK chapter’s launch was remarkable because of the significance of this centre not beck of the fact that Musharraf is based here currently but also because the expatriate community has shown support for the corruption-free rule of Musharraf, who cannot be faulted for swindling money for his person. He said at it’s London meeting, the delegates from the UK had indicated to the former president what they thought was the requirement of Pakistan and why he was the best man to lead Pakistan towards progress again.