Musharraf wants SC to annul 2013 polls, form interim govt

KARACHI: Martial law is no solution to the problems facing the country but a change of government is the need of the hour. The country was not made for the Constitution but the Constitution was made for it, said former president Pervez Musharraf in an exclusive interview with The News and Daily Jang.
Musharraf said the law of necessity was also important for the existence, solidarity and independence of the country.“The army should not enforce martial law but change should now come through the Supreme Court, which should declare the 2013 elections null a void and constitute an interim government,” said the ex-president.He said keeping in view the opinion of almost all analysts that future world wars would be fought over water, Pakistan and India may go to war over both water and the Kashmir issue.
To a question about the meeting of his foreign minister Khursheed Mahmood Kasuri with the Israeli foreign minister, Musharraf said India-Israel connivance was very harmful for Pakistan. “Pakistan does not have direct enmity with Israel; therefore, I included Turkey in this matter and the meeting of the two foreign ministers took place with my consent.”
To a question about the Karachi situation and the MQM, he said the MQM bears the stamp of terrorism and Altaf Hussain must take steps to rub off this bad image. Musharraf said no political party should have weapons. “During my tenure, I did my best to mend the MQM’s ways. Their conduct was very good during my tenure, while there is much confusion these days. I do not want to say any more, as I don’t have all the details.”
Referring to the placement of hindrances on the roads, he pointed out that a road in front of Bilawal House in Karachi had been completely closed by erecting a wall.
Asked if he would play any role in the MQM’s political affairs, he replied: “I have learnt to handle administrative affairs while being in the army, but I see a problem in this matter. I speak for the whole country, not for an area or a city.”
When asked about the repeated calls of the MQM for martial law, he said martial law should not be imposed at all, but there should a change of government in every case. He said the army was the backbone of the country and it should be used as the last resort. “What will happen if the army also fails?”
When it was pointed out that there was no provision in the Constitution to change the government in this manner, he said the situation in Pakistan would be no different from Iraq and Syria if terrorism continued to hit it. He said the army was improving the situation but still there should be a change in the government.
When reminded that the duration of an interim government was no more than three months, he said it was important to change the situation in the country and therefore an interim set-up should be made for three years. He said all security arrangements had been done away with after the 18th Amendment; therefore, Article 58(2)B and the National Security Council are necessary to keep an eye on affairs.
Musharraf said party leaders were acting like dictators and they could deprive anybody of their membership of the assembly. He said the country’s issues were not being solved and the graph of the government’s performance was falling.
“Is Article 6 more important than the existence of the country? Is the Constitution for the country or the country for the Constitution? The Constitution is not giving a solution to the problems of the country; therefore, the Supreme Court should play its role.
“Everyone says the 2013 elections were rigged and the Election Commission also accepts this. Therefore the Supreme Court, giving a verdict on the applications it has, should declare the 2013 elections as void, dismiss the present government and form an interim government.”
He said the solution to the problems of the country cannot be found in the Constitution, while the law of necessity also has no remedy. It is now a question of the very existence of the country, he added.
Responding to a question about the ‘third power’ in the country, he said the PML-N and the PPP have ruled four times each and have destroyed the country. “There is a need for a new force. I place myself in a big role and not in a regional one. I do not long for any role nor do I wish to do so. But, I insist all those responsible in the government should be able and honest.”
He pointed out that Imran Khan was also talking of a ‘third force’ but he would fail if he acted alone. He was in the wrong earlier and has also misunderstood the present. There is no possibility of success for him in a solo flight. He said the third force would be from within the Muslim League. He said: “A number of people are approaching me and I gather sufficient information from them.”
He continued: “Everyone in the country knows that the PML-N is getting unpopular with every passing day, the PPP is also down in Sindh and is zero in Punjab while the MQM is losing ground. This situation has created a big vacuum, which should be filled. It is the need of the time for a new political figure. Of course there is my role in it and I would like to come forward. But I am not willing to hold a position, but I would support if anyone comes to deal with the situation.”
To a question whether terrorism would end with Zarb-e-Azb he said that operation alone would not finish it. He said the terrorists are spread all over the country and the areas where the operation is going on were centres of training, planning and preparations for terrorism.
On a question about a foreign hand in Balochistan, he said there were separatists, sectarian and linguistic movements working in the province. He said that terrorists were hiding in South Punjab, and the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi along with other such outfits were active.
He said that there were 67 Ferrari camps in Balochistan in his tenure which provided safe havens for terrorists and criminal elements. There were three camps in Turbat alone which were destroyed. He said that people in Balochistan were provided with education, health and transportation facilities. Cantonments were built in Kashmore and Sui.
Responding to a question about the NRO, he denied any involvement of the US or the British governments. He said that two meetings were held with Benazir Bhutto. He expressed his regrets on accepting the NRO. There were 11 cases against Benazir and reconciliation with Benazir and Asif Zardari was his big mistake, he remarked.
He said Gen Kayani should have conducted an operation in North Waziristan earlier when Baitullah Mehsud, Hakeemullah Mehsud and Fazlullah were present in the area.
Responding to a question about appeasement with Nawaz Sharif, he said there was no such thing visible in his relations with Nawaz. He refuted the notion that there was any conspiracy against him in 2008 when he resigned as president. He said that he knew that 58(2)-B was being abolished and the president would lose all his powers.
About the energy crisis, he said that he was not responsible for it. Additional electricity of 1,450MW was produced by Ghazi Barotha, 300MW from Chasma-2, 100MW from Mangla Rising and several private thermal plants. In his tenure, 19,500MW of electricity was produced.
Responding to a question on Kashmir, he claimed that his suggestions to resolve the issue were also praised by the Indian authorities as well. He said that the suggestions included self-governance in Kashmir, keeping intact the LoC without mentioning the border and six different points for transportation.