Islamabad: Former military ruler Pervez
Musharraf, who has been living abroad since April apparently
due to a slew of cases filed against him in Pakistani courts,
has said he will surely return home but the timing will depend
upon the "domestic environment".
"One thing is for sure that I will return to Pakistan.
The timing, however, is of the essence. It is mainly dependent
on the domestic environment. I have to see whether people
vastly want me to return and also whether I can deliver," he
said.
On speculation that he would launch a political party on
his return, the former President did not give a clear answer
but said to generate direct public support he would have to
"try something original".
Answering questions posed to him by his fans on his page
on the social networking website Facebook, Musharraf wrote:
"As far as forming a new party or getting into an alliance is
concerned, one has to be pragmatic".
"Existing politicians have their importance and a
definite role to play. I have to generate direct public
support to try something original. I do believe in a military
maxim: `Never reinforce failure`".
Courts in Pakistan are hearing several cases against him,
including those related to the steps taken under the emergency
that has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Musharraf said he had to work through the political and
democratic process and that only grassroots support could
enable him to carry out a programme and policy based on his
vision for the future.
"So if this question is coming from someone who desires
that this happen, it is really up to you to begin engaging.
The youth, who have been voicing this question and are the
future custodians of Pakistan, have to get activated,"
Musharraf wrote.
Responding to a question on why huge bank loans were
written off during his tenure, he said, "Absolutely correct,
it should never be done".
"But who says I have written off a single loan of any
rich or influential individual? Never have I done this... I
have, however, written off loans of the poor, especially those
stricken by natural calamities," he said.
The Supreme Court, which recently declared as
unconstitutional and illegal the emergency imposed by
Musharraf two years ago, is currently hearing a case related
to the writing off of loans worth billions of rupees during
Musharraf`s tenure.
Musharraf also denied that he had handed over Pakistani
nationals to the US for interrogation.
"These are baseless allegations. Not a single Pakistani
was handed over by me to the US or any foreign country. Those
taken by US were captured in Afghanistan and not given to US,"
he said.
"Our policy was clear: Pakistanis will be tried in
Pakistan. Foreigners will be offered to their own countries
first and in case of refusal (which was invariably the case,
they) will be handed over to the US.
"The facts about Dr Afia Siddiqui`s case are still
unclear," Musharraf wrote.
He wrote that he had only heard Afia`s name through the
media when the story of her arrest in Afghanistan became
public.
Musharraf, whose fan base on Facebook is growing by the
day, also posted a message on Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali
Jinnah`s birth anniversary.
"I would like to reflect on how fortunate Pakistan is to
have had a founder like Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah and
revive our commitment to his dreams for us," he said.
PTI
