Pervez Musharraf planning to return to politics: Aide

ISLAMABAD: Former president Pervez Musharraf is planning to return to Pakistan from self-exile and head the newly formed All Pakistan Muslim League, his top aide said today.

"We have organised co-ordinating councils, we call them, which are at present involved in recruiting people or getting people to join All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) which is the political party, which Inshah Allah, be led by president Musharraf and will bring the sort of progress and prosperity to Pakistan that it had in time when Musharraf was around," retired general Rashid Qureshi said.

Qureshi, who was the military and presidential spokesperson for Musharraf, has been in the forefront in setting up the APML.

"You see, earlier on, president Musharraf was not actively involved in politics. Yes, he was at one time, the chief executive of the country and later on the President of Pakistan. But the political side was being handled by the PML(Q) and all political decisions were taken by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Parvez Ilahi, obviously in consultation with the president," he said.

"Some of these political decisions turned out to be not very popular with the people of Pakistan," he added.

Musharraf has lived outside Pakistan since mid-April last year. He left Pakistan after a slew of cases were filed against him in courts across the country. Musharraf is mostly based in London after leaving the country.

The former president was forced to step down as army chief in November 2008 and was earlier barred from active politics in the country for two years.

Musharraf in Dubai to meet 'old friends' to garner support for political ambition

Lahore, July 5 (ANI): Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has flown to Dubai from London to hold talks with his 'old political friends' viewing a possibility of mid-term polls in Pakistan.

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According to insiders, eager to try his luck in the country's politics, Musharraf has invited several 'friendly' leaders in the PML-Q to Dubai to discuss the future course of action amidst speculation of a snap poll in the country.


Leaders like Hamid Nasir Chattha, Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Lala Nisar Muhammad Khan and several others have been invited to Dubai for the meeting.

A leader, who is likely to meet Musharraf, while requesting anonymity said that it would be an advisory meeting with 'old friends.'

"We have told Musharraf in the 'April Meeting' in Abu Dhabi that we have our own political priorities back home and we would not join your party," he added.

Sources said that the Musharraf camp is also trying to contact PML-Q chief and former Prime Minister Chaudhury Shujaat Hussain.

However, Musharraf's political schemes could receive a set back from Hussain, as the later has clarified on several occasions that he has no interest in the former general's political adventures.

Sources said that after the meeting, Musharraf would go back to London, where he is currently living on an unannounced exile, and formally announce the launching of his party, All Pakistan Muslim League (APML).

He is also expected to announce a date for his return to Pakistan, The Nation reports. (ANI)

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