Political rivals in Pakistan close ranks to counter Musharraf’s comeback efforts

ISLAMABAD - The ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has joined hands with opposition party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to counter the efforts of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf towards making a political comeback in the country.

To frustrate Musharraf’s aim of benefiting from weaknesses of the existing parties in Pakistan, the two major political parties have evolved a tactical understanding to close their ranks, The Nation quoted sources privy to these developments, as saying.

Sources said that the political parties wanted to make conditions tough for Musharraf so that he would not get any space and political mileage on his comeback, as they were of the view that “he (Musharraf) should forget about doing politics and should better enjoy his self-exiled life.”

The sources ruled out any possibility of the retired general’s return to Pakistan, as it was part of the exit deal with the PPP government and the army, and so the retired general’s comeback claim would be nothing more than a political stunt.

Musharraf, who was living in a fool’s paradise, was unaware of the ground realities that the countrymen were quite averse to his plans of returning to Pakistan, as they had still remembered his illegal actions, sources said, confiding what the parties thought.

The former military ruler plans to launch his political party All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) next month from London and has invited nearly 200 delegates for the purpose.

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. (ANI)