Says he can stop corruption, capital flight and improve country
- By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter
- Published: 00:00 December 27, 2010
- Gulf News
Pervez Musharraf
- Pervez Musharraf, the former president of Pakistan was in Dubai to mark the birthday of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, at Ramada Continental. Addressing more than 600 people in a jam-packed hall, Musharraf talked at length about his achievements but did not mention his grave mistakes.
- Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
Dubai: Pakistan should make its war against terrorism conditional on the payment of its heavy debts by the countries involved, said former president Pervez Musharraf.
"Countries fighting the war against terrorism should solve our debt problems to bring the country out of the economic trouble because Pakistan has suffered huge economic losses. And if they don't, then Pakistan should ‘see' what it should do for its survival," Musharraf said while speaking at function in Dubai to mark the birth of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.
It was Musharraf's first public appearance in Dubai since he launched his political party All Pakistan Muslim League (APML). A huge crowd of his supporters turned up at the function which was organised by his Dubai-based party, activists and businessmen — including Syed Mohammad Ali and Saleem Shah. The event was also attended by his supporters who came from United Kingdom and Pakistan.
Support
A number of people, including owner of the famous chain of Karachi Darbar restaurants in the UAE, announced their support for Musharraf.
Addressing more than 600 people in a jam-packed hall of the Ramada Continental Hotel in Dubai, Musharraf talked at length about his achievements during his eight-year tenure in the government but did not mention his grave mistakes which lead to his collapse as president of the country.
"Quaid-e-Azam's [Mohammad Ali Jinnah] soul must be restless to see what is happening in Pakistan these days. We have no pride now. Muslims are killing Muslims in the name of Islam in the country. People of Pakistan are suffering due to lack of commercial and economic activities," he said.
"Investors are scared to go to Pakistan, corruption is at its peak and huge capital flight from Pakistan to foreign countries has added to their economic downturn," he added.
Musharraf believes that he can turn Pakistan around by reversing all these deteriorating factors if he comes into power again. "I can do it and you have to support me to win elections as it is the first step to change political culture in Pakistan," he said.
However, he did not elaborate how he will win the election especially when he does not have a constituency or other candidates who are capable of winning enough seats to bring him to the corridors of power again.
But he is banking on 60 per cent of Pakistani voters who have never used their right of franchise in the past.
"This 60 per cent of [the] population will have to wake up and vote for better leadership to save Pakistan," Musharraf said.
He also urged the youth of the country to rise to the occasion to secure their future.
Back to development
To bring Pakistan back on the path of development, Musharraf said: "I will repeat what I did in 1999 — gain the confidence of people and foreign countries — and rebuild Pakistan with mandate of the masses which is stronger than army uniform and bureaucracy."
On his plan to return to Pakistan, he said: "I am very comfortable abroad with no problems whatsoever but I have a cause to go back and that is to save Pakistan."
Those who spoke at the function included Barrister Saif, secretary-general of APML; Chaudhry Shahbaz, chief coordinator, Saleem Shah and Syed Mohammad Ali. He also cut the cake to mark Jinnah's birthday.
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