Pak civilian government must learn to perform: Musharraf

LONDON - Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is of the view that democratically-elected governments in his country have been failing to perform the objectives of government, offering good governance, and ensuring the well-being of the people.

If these aren’t being achieved, governments, whether democratic or military, must be changed, the Dawn quoted him, as saying at recent lecture at Chatham House here.

Compared with civilians, Musharraf said the military possessed “better trained minds, and better administrative capacity, and conceded that civilian government must learn to perform.

Being a man not given to self-doubt, Musharraf said that Pakistan’s way forward lies in the “integration of the political forces, political parties, army, and bureaucracy,” and “unity of thought” between these entities.

“Clearly, I love my country. I would do anything for my country. I took an oath when I passed out of the military academy to go anywhere when ordered to serve Pakistan, even at threat to my life,” he said.

“I want for the people of Pakistan to understand I am a civilian now, I am not a military man. I cannot take over anything,” he jokingly says.

“Electorally, I think I will have that legitimacy I never had. Then if one unites army and bureaucracy, with legitimacy of political process … that is for the people of Pakistan to decide,” he adds. (ANI)