Pakistan's former military ruler to jump into politics shortly

Former president General (retired) Pervez Musharraf has decided to jump into full time politics but not until he moves into his sprawling new farmhouse on the outskirts of Islamabad as he does not want to “misuse the Army House” where he is currently staying.

“I don’t want to make the Army House a hub of political activities because of its unique nature, but my political headquarter will be my personal residence once I shift there,” Musharraf was quoted by daily The News as saying.

Musharraf used the same Army House to tightly govern the country since seizing power in a coup by toppling the democratically government of Nawaz Sharif in 1999 until the general-president was forced to resign in August to stave off an impeachment by the parliament.

When asked about the political platform on which he would fall back, the former president posed a counter question: “Will the Pakistan Muslim League-Q [that he midwifed in 2002] not be available to me for the purpose?”

Analysts doubt it would be easy for Musharraf to take over PML-Q led by former prime minister Shujaat Hussain with whom in the last several weeks before the February general elections his ties became strained.

Political observers also note that Hussain is no longer a frequent visitor to Musharraf’s residence thinking that the former president was of no more of any consequence politically.

Musharraf was explained what fate has befallen Imran Khan, who had embarked on a solo flight by launching his own party after believing that he was too popular as a former cricketing hero.

Another visitor, who is a former federal minister and worked with Musharraf for five years, said the former president was too optimistic about his “political standing and future” despite the fact that he was “deadwood” now and has no political prospects whatsoever.

He said he wondered what had Musharraf in his pocket to be so confident about himself. He said his state was no different from what it used to be when he was holding the top office.

The former minister said Musharraf told him that he was planning to undertake visits to some foreign countries in the near future and his first stop would be Saudi Arabia where he would also perform Umra.

Since Musharraf’s resignation, the only publicly known high-profile activity organised at the Army House a few days back was when he hosted the recently retired top officers of the armed forces which was also attended by Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani.

The former minister said some other visitors have told Musharraf that the PML-Q was relevant as a political party only during the time when he was the president of Pakistan. After his exit, it has no political bearing and that’ s why it is in the wilderness since his resignation.

He added Musharraf was well aware of the plight of the PML-Q where most of its leaders and MPs were following a wait and see policy to decide about their future.