Musharraf’s ’style and candour’ appeals to youth, says aide

LONDON - Pakistan’s youth have been mesmerised by not only the style and candour of former president Pervez Musharraf, but also the fact that he speaks for the country and not for himself, an aide of Musharraf has said.

“Young people are showing a huge interest in supporting Pervez Musharraf just because they think he speaks for Pakistan and not for himself. They like his style and his candour,” The News quoted Asif Shahzad, the UK political coordinator of Musharraf, as saying.

Meanwhile, the former military ruler is all set to begin his second innings in Pakistan’s political arena by presenting his own political party APML’s radical vision of a new Pakistan, at a well-publicised venue in central London today.

His key supporters have already arrived in London and will be present with him for his rallies. While 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 and Jam Zulfikar Ali.

The star of the event will be Musharraf himself, 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 Pakistan needs him to steer it in the right direction. He is also expected to announce his return date to Pakistan to lead his party from the front.

He will speak for about half an hour before opening the hall for formal questions and answers, the paper said.

Since arriving in London after exiting from Pakistan as part of a controversial deal, Musharraf has loved speaking to western audiences and has made the full use of his blunt style of speaking.

However, he has vowed to return to Pakistan before the next election due in 2013 in a bid to “try his luck” in the presidential elections. (ANI)