Musharraf begins political career today

LONDON: Pervez Musharraf starts another bid to power today after being crowned by his nascent All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) as its founding father and the leading light.
The announcement of long and arduous journey back into the turbulent centre stage of Pakistani politics has attracted much derision from the skeptics and anti-Musharraf politicians, mainly the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and to some extent Pakistan People’s Party, but his decision to enter the active politics has delighted the former president’s supporters and fans.
One of a long list of Muslim Leagues, the Musharraf-led new kid on the block league will present its radical vision of a new Pakistan before international media at a well-publicized central London venue on Oct 1.
The star of the event, covered in security blanket, will be Pervez Musharraf who is expected to speak in detail about the ills befalling Pakistan and why he still thinks, after 8 years of abysmal rule in power, that he is the Messiah Pak-istan needs to steer it in the right direction. At the same event he is expected to announce his return date to Pakistan to lead his party from the front.
The former commando general will speak for about half an hour and then he will open the hall for formal questions and answers. Also present at the event will be a long list of his prominent supporters who have travelled from Pakistan, and the US to be with him at the event - and two other events planned for 2nd of October in Birmingham and 9th of October in Manchester respectively - and formally express their support for the London-based exiled leader.
Since arriving in London after exiting from Pakistan as part of a controversial deal, Musharraf has loved speaking to the western audience and has made the full use of his blunt style of speaking. He was frank and open on Wednesday night at a public interview organized by the Intelligence Squared debating forum in Kensington Town Hall.
Interviewed by former British ambassador to the US, Christopher Meyer, the retired general was quick to attack President Asif Ali Zardari for “failing to tackle religious extremism” and for making a mess of the country’s economy.
He advocated that Pakistan’s armed forces should have a constitutional role in the country’s leadership, as that will be very helpful to keep checks and balances and to ensure good governance.
Answering a question, Musharraf said he was satisfied he had provided enough security to Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in Rawalpindi, upon her return. He blamed Benazir Bhutto for compromising on her security and putting herself at risk when she stood up through the roof.
Meanwhile, key Musharraf supporters have already arrived in London and will be present with him for his rallies. Topping the list is TV personality Naeem Bukhari who will conduct the proceedings of all the events. Others include Chaudhary Shahbaz Hussain, Rahsid Qureshi, Barrister Saif, Fawad Chaudhary, Dr Sher Afghan, Hamid Nasir Chattha, Jam Zulfikar Ali, and many others.