Musharraf’s political party formally launches recruitment drive in Pak

KARACHI - In a bid to garner public support before his much awaited comeback, former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf’s political party the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) has lunched an ‘official’ recruitment drive in the country.

Addressing a press conference here, one of Musharraf’s closest aides and his spokesperson Rashid Qureshi said the newly floated party has received a great response from the people of Pakistan.

Responding to a question regarding Musharraf’s comeback, Qureshi said: “He (Musharraf) would return soon and would fix the date for his return himself.”

Several cases are pending against Musharraf in courts across Pakistan, and the UN enquiry commission’s report also held his regime responsible for the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in December 2007, but Qureshi denied all charges, saying the former general would return to Pakistan only to serve the people of the country.

“General Musharraf has no desire for personal power. He only intends to serve Pakistan,” he said.

Qureshi added that the newly formed APML would pave the way for Musharraf’s return.

“President Musharraf intends to return to Pakistan as soon as a date is announced for the next elections,” added APML spokesman Mohammad Ali Saif.

When asked that whether the former dictator actually intends to return to the country, as there were many cases pending against him, Saif said asserted that Musharraf was not ‘afraid’ and was ready to face the court of law.

“President Musharraf is not afraid of any of the charges made against him. He fully intends to return and face them,” The BBC quoted him, as saying.

Reports regarding Musharraf’s return to Pakistan have been doing rounds in the media for a long time now, but it is believed that he is unlikely to take a flight back to Pakistan amidst demands for his high treason trial, particularly from the main opposition party’s (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif. (ANI)