The former military ruler of Pakistan Parvez Musharraf Friday said he will return to Pakistan within a week after establishment of a caretaker government in country.
Islamabad, March 1/Nationalturk – The former military ruler of Pakistan General (retd) Parvez Musharraf Friday said he will end his self-imposed exile and return to Pakistan within a week after establishment of a caretaker government in the country.
“As soon as the interim government is in place in Pakistan, I will go return to Pakistan,” Musharraf told reporters in Dubai.
The Pakistan Peoples Party-led government in Pakistan is set to complete its five-year term on March 16 and the ruling party and main opposition have begun negotiations on forming a caretaker set-up to supervise the next general election to be held by mid-May. It is expected that caretaker government in the country will be in place by March 16.
Musharraf said he planned to fly either into Karachi or Rawalpindi to end his self-exile.
Asked whether he would be arrested on his return in connection with several cases against him, including the case related to the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto, he said, “I don’t see any reason why I should be arrested”.
Musharraf said he would react only in accordance with what happens at the airport. “There is no case against me in court. If I am to be punished for giving economic progress to Pakistan and for reducing unemployment, I am ready to face the courts,” he said.
He said under his government, development had taken place in Pakistan as new universities had been set up and many sectors of the economy, such as agriculture and telecommunications had boomed.
69-year-old Musharraf, who stepped down as Pakistan President in 2008 after he was threatened with impeachment, said his political party – All Pakistan Muslim League – will participate in the election.
Pakistan was passing through difficult phase
Stating that Pakistan was passing through a very difficult phase and the coming few months will be challenging, Musharraf said religious extremism and terrorism were the main reason behind this turmoil.
“During my tenure as army chief and president, the government focused on a four point agenda that covered internal stability, regional peace, international acceptability and the country’s overall socio-economic development. We need a government that will work on these four agendas. And for this an honest and responsible government is a prerequisite,” he said.
Musharraf has set several dates for his return to Pakistan in the past but put off his homecoming after he was threatened with arrest.
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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News
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