Sept. 11: Former Pakistan military ruler Pervez Musharraf claims he can become the President of the country once again, though he also fears that returning to Pakistan can be risky. Mr Musharraf gave up power in 2008 after his political rivals swept power and threatened to impeach him. He had seized power in 1999 in a military coup.
The former military ruler, who has formed a new party, the All Pakistan Muslim League, told the BBC that he would stand for Parliament in the next general elections in 2013. “Two hundred per cent, I will participate in the next election,” Mr Musharraf, who has been living outside Pakistan since April 2009, told BBC. Asked about his plans for the next elections in Pakistan, he said he would be “standing for a party that I’ll create.”
Mr Musharraf said he was aware of the risks involved if he returned to Pakistan, but still wants to return to restore the country’s self-confidence. The former dictator, who lives in self-exile in London, said he is not scared of possible legal cases against him and insists that he has to try to lift Pakistan out of, what he terms, a “pathetic situation.”
Mr Musharraf also understands that his popularity has waned saying it is still strong among the majority of Pakistanis who do not vote. He said the time to introduce a new political culture in Pakistan has come, and this will take Pakistan forward on the right democratic path, not on an artificial, make-believe democratic path. Mr Musharraf has been planning a comeback to Pakistan politics lately. He has been holding meetings with his close aides to finalise things.
His party has been active in raising funds for victims of the devastating floods in Pakistan and Musharraf personally donated `1 crore for relief efforts.