Says after seeing ailing mother, will come back to Pakistan
Asks nation, armed forces, serious politicians to join hands for country’s development
ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (INP): Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday he would not run away from Pakistan as all cases against him were politically motivated.
“I am not running away from Pakistan. Rather, I will defend [myself] in all cases against me before a court of law,” the former president told his supporters via telephone at the All Parties Muslim League (APML) convention.
“I am not the looter of national wealth. I am not among those who loot the national wealth and flee from Pakistan,” he asserted.
He said he is not afraid of fake cases and said he will face every case filed against him. He said he is no stranger to difficult circumstances and passed more difficult times during service in the Army as well as during presidency in the shape of pressures.
“I have to go out of Pakistan only to see my ailing mother and will return back to you,” he said to the gathering.
Musharraf said he would live and die in Pakistan. The APML chief said he would face all the cases.
Talking about his health condition, Musharraf said he is well now and only one of his tests is to be done out of country.
Musharraf said the question of putting Pakistan back on track was before him. “We all should think about it,” he added. He said the Pakistani people, armed forces and serious politicians should join hands for development of the country.
The former president said he was proud of whatever he has done during his rule. He claimed that he introduced real democracy. He said the development projects completed during his time have been not treated well.
He also lamented the current economic situation and claimed that when he resigned in 2008, the country had $17 billion reserves as compared to only $4 billion to $5billion today. “Pakistan is in the difficult times since last six years”. He said the people were not getting jobs and poverty was increasing with each passing day. He said loans of about $50 billion were received during the last six years. “I ask them (rulers) where these loans were spent,” he said.
He condemned the Model Town incident and condoled with the families of those who had lost their lives. Earlier, a convention of the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) elected Musharraf as chairman of the party for the next term. Earlier in the day senior PML-N leader Raja Zafarul Haq admitted that the government was under immense pressure to remove the name of Pervez Musharraf from the exit control list (ECL) and let him go abroad.
The former president is currently residing in Karachi where he is receiving treatment at PNS Shifa after undergoing a heart ailment in the midst of the treason trial initiated by the incumbent government against him.
APML secretary general Dr Muhammad Amjad said the rulers have ruined the country. He said the government was befooling the masses by showing them the so-called mega projects and hiding their shortcomings.
APML MNA Shehzada Iftikhar said he was ready to vacate his seat for Pervez Musharraf he he wants to contest elections.
INP
