ISLAMABAD: Former President General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has sought permission of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for launching a new political party, the “All Pakistan Muslim League” (APML) from London on October 1.

A secret list of 52 top politicians of both the PML-Q and the PPP-Patriots has now been prepared, who would announce to join this new party to give a boost to General (retd) Pervez Musharraf before launching the party.

One of his loyalists, Barrister Saif has submitted relevant documents to the ECP on behalf of General (retd) Musharraf to get the new party registered. The registration of the party is now pending with the ECP where progress on the case is very slow.

Ch Shujaat Hussain and Ch Pervez Elahi will not join the new party yet in the first phase. The sources said that the Chaudhrys sent a message to General (retd) Musharraf that because of the Bank of Punjab case, they did not want to annoy Asif Ali Zardari and Shahbaz Sharif.

Top inside political sources have claimed that Pir Pagara and the MQM are being given top priority in the new political set-up as General (retd) Musharraf is said to have completed his homework in the last six months after meeting his comrades in Dubai and London.

The sources said that General (retd) Musharraf had invited his loyalists to a convention in London on October 1, when he would launch the “All Pakistan Muslim League” (APML). A large number of media persons are also being invited by him to cover the event from London where he would also give interviews to journalists.

The sources said that Barrister Saif was getting the party registered and afterward he would invite Pervez Musharraf to become its president. The sources said now General (retd) Musharraf was waiting for issuance of NoC for his new party as the rest of the arrangements were complete.

When contacted by The News, Advocate Fawad Hussain Chaudhry, who is a close aide of General (retd) Musharraf, confirmed the launching of the political party. He also confirmed that Barrister Saif was getting the party registered with the ECP. But, he said that the NoC was not being issued because the ECP had not the required number of members right now.

Meanwhile, sources said that after long discussions with his political lieutenants in Dubai and London, a new political strategy was worked out to launch General (retd) Musahrraf in active politics amid fast erosion of credibility of corrupt politicians in the ranks of the PPP and the PML-N as their governments had terribly failed to deliver despite tall claims.

The sources said that after getting disappointed from Chaudhrys of Gujrat, now General (retd) Musahrraf had replaced them with Pir of Pagara, who was being given the task to bring all the like-minded politicians in the party.

According to the new plan, the All Pakistan Muslim League would have an alliance with the MQM after joining Pir Pagara who would arrange a party convention in Karachi where top leaders of the PML-Q and other like-minded politicians would participate.

As the second phase of his strategy, General Pervez Musharaf is getting ready to write long articles on four important steps he took during his government and was always criticized. He is planning to write articles and even give interviews on the Lal Masjid operation, the killing of Akbar Bugti, November 3 emergency and issuance of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) to reply to his critics. Likewise, he would wait for the reaction of the public over his explanations and interviews before making his mind to return to Pakistan to join active politics. (News sourced from The News Intl).

NEW YORK, AUG 26, 2010: Today is Nawab Akbar Bugti assassination’s fourth anniversary. Restive and now flood-ravaged Balochistan is on payyah jam. Fire, bullets and water engulf the Baloch – reminiscent of the cyclone Bhola in 1970 that devastated Bangladesh and pushed the angry eastern half of Pakistan over the edge – a year later to emerge as an independent nation. Baloch nationalists and Pervez Musharraf-bashers point fingers at him for Bugti killing. There has been no public probe nor can the nation expect one. They are not used to it. The system expects all to follow Lagey Raho Munna Bhai SOP!

Meanwhile, Musharraf is in the headlines. First he announced he won’t come back this year. But his political party APML is quietly and discreetly operating in Pakistan. They intend to make Karachi and Islamabad their staging grounds I am told. Orangi Sector 7 and Rawalpindi – my source tells me. Then came the news that he is forming a foundation for flood relief. Today he called the family of the Sialkot brothers and condoled their deaths. He also strongly condemned the Sialkot police’s silent spectator role in the lynching of their sons. Did he introspect Bugti’s killing today? If he ordered Bugti killing as Army chief then on military’s unified command doctrine he may be responsible. If he did so as the President then on collective leadership doctrine he may have a legal argument in his defense. But the nation by and large feels he overplayed his hands on this onne also. Earlier it was the Lal Masjid. Whether the nation will overlook the matter if and when he returns is another matter. Baloch won’t – specially if you have dishonored them.

Two years back I wrote a blog on Musharraf. It is still relevant. Here it is:

AUG 19, 2008: Musharraf has quit as President- typically in a commando style: resilient, sans apologies – defending his actions – highlighting his achievements – focusing on rivals’ shortcomings and weaknesses – hoping that Pakistan will come out shining but in the same breathe alluding to ominous signs of impending external and internal threats.

His parting diatribes seem to be a borderline case of delusional-cum-polemical chicaneries – an understandable mental manifestation of someone who have been pushed to move his butt off the high altar where he has been sitting so long. If I had a buddy like Bush on my side always, I would probably be the same – may be even worse. Interestingly both have been delusional to the extreme.

While running for the presidentship, Bush couldn’t name the new leader of Pakistan, i.e. Gen. Musharraf. But after Sept. 11, things changed overnight – whether for the good or for the worse only history will tell.

Musharraf became the most crucial but ultimately the most frustrating ally of the U.S and Bush’s personally. In the process, however Musharraf became a “personal friend” of George Bush – the latter often called him his ‘buddy’.

Ironically, U.S. has “no permanent friends nor permanent enemies”. So is it about Musharraf and USA. The region has become so murky that even the strongest Chlorox can’t clean it up. Stains will remain for ever. Welcome to the club, Commando! He once said, he never blinked – because he had “cat’s 9 lives”.

Interestingly though, he is not yet fully depreciated politically (my personal opinion), even age wise and “nuisance value” wise. He has of course proved that he is neither a Ayub Khan nor a Yahya, nor a Bhutto! And, he has already proved he is not a Zia either!

He ended up getting the farewell guard of honor, has a President’s security details, is lodged in Army Chief’s house, shall remain in the country, can speak to the media, etc. and says will issue a White Paper on the dire strait of the economy.

As I watched his unapologetic monologue on the TV, my mind tried to visualize him on the day after. And I saw him out there, kicking and throwing dust all around.

Possibly a comeback kid one day? In some form or the other?

We got to wait to see if that will happen for at least a year or so, since there appears to be a two-year restriction on government officials from entering politics. Meanwhile he will maintain sophisticated connect with the media and the people using ‘surprise’ as a Commando’s greatest weapon!

Muttahida, PML(Q), PML(F), etc…any or all may want him in one way or another. He has the potential to unite or divide the MQMs, provide alternate leadership to the Muhajirs in Karachi, has the knack to attempt to create a Punjab-Karachi constituency for himself – provided the establishment, including Uncle Sam, supports him and wants that to happen. Full of surprises Pakistan politics is.

Since the war on terror will go on….Musharraf, a known ally, offers alternate leadership. The U.S. has spent a lot on him. He is an “asset” by all definitions, some say. Meanwhile take a break Commando. Go golfing!

Note: Here is the link to the original blog written in Aug 2008: http://isalim.blogspot.com/2008/08/phoenix-rising-for-musharraf.html

PS: It’s all about blood, sweat and tears & Pakistan. It’s still in the making – both its ideological and physical boundaries. Meanwhile, here is a poem I wrote way back in 1973 after the fall of Dhaka:

REFUSAL

Oozing out
To travel in time
And growing so large
Till earth appeared;

Affectionately, cajolingly
A cell sucked breaths within
As love’s elixir
Seeped into her
Till it took no more.

Then he came to cry
That world inside
Could where he belong.

He also peeped and
Pageantries in air saw;

But heavenly flowers
Were they whence
Oozing out he’d seen.

So he ceased to cry, to peep
And crept cajolingly back into
His mother’s mound…

As cradle stood and
Lantern trimmed its
Cotton wick availingly

Irshad Salim

NEW YORK: Former President Pervez Musharraf has demanded that the international community should write off Pakistan’s loan in the wake of current calamity situation.

“Pakistan needs donations, not loan from the international community. The international monitory institutions should write off tax service liability or reschedule Pakistan’s loan.”

Appearing on Sawal Yeh Hai talk show on ARY, the former President said the local government if it still existed would have performed well in flood relief work.

Musharraf, who is based in London, said the local bodies scrapped by the present PPP government, was a grass-root based system to provide relief to masses to the lower level. It

“The local body system was best possible system. If there were Nazims, Tehsil Nazims and Councilors, they would have provided relief to the people in their areas.”

The disastrous floods have swamped a fifth of Pakistan and continue to affect millions of people in the country. It is worst ever natural disaster in 80 years, it has emerged.

Musharraf, who has formed his own political party, APML, said he would soon organize a telethon fund-raising in Pakistan for more than 20 million flood victims of the country, published reports said.

APML which stands for All Pakistan Muslim League is said to formerly launch its activities in September simultaneously from Dallas, London and Dubai.

Speaking on the ARY talk show, Musharraf revealed that he is formulating a foundation to collect donations and carrying out relief and rehabilitation activities for flood-affected Pakistanis.

Applauding armed forces’ role in flood relief work, he said Pakistan Army has efficiency to successfully carry out rescue operations across the country through its organization and administration.

Pakistani Talk Show Views On News with Dr. Shahid Masood discusses absence of leaders, leadership and governance as the nation faces Pakistan history’s worst disaster – floods from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Sindh and Punjab. Comparison between PPP govt and MUsharraf govt. Guests: Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed (AML), Kabir Ali Wasti (PML-Humkhayal), Ijaz Ul Haq (PML-Zia)..

KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday issued orders to declare
former president Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf a proclaimed offender.

A division bench of the court, headed by SHC Chief Justice Sarmad
Jalal Usmani, issued the order while hearing a petition by Maulvi
Iqbal Haider.

Haider in his petition had contended that a case should be filed
against the former president under Article 6 of the Constitution.

The petition accused Musharraf of violating the constitution, illegal
usage of national resources, damaging the federation and soiling the
state’s reputation.

The SHC had issued notices to Musharraf to appear before the court
several times, however, he did not follow the orders.

The court at this took action and ordered to publish advertisements in
British and national newspapers directing Musharraf to appear before
the court. (DawnNews)

ISLAMABAD: Former president General (R) Pervez Musharraf has donated Rs 10 million for the flood affectees.

Chaudhry Shahbaz Hussain, All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) chief coordinator and former federal minister announced the donation on Sunday in a press conference on behalf of the former president who is in self-exile in London.

Hussain informed the media that Musharraf had announced the donation following the mass devastation caused by the floods. Hussain said that amount would be given in the form of cash and relief goods.

He said that both the federal and provincial governments had failed to provide any relief to the flood affectees. The APML chief coordinator said that millions of people were still waiting for relief goods from the higher authorities.

Prime Minister Gilani today appealed to everyone to enthusiastically help their brothers, sisters and children in this hard time and not to leave them alone.

Pakistani Talk Show Dunya Meray Agay with Nusrat Javed and Mushtaq Minhas discuss failed India-Pakistan peace talks in Islamabad and exclusive interview with Baloch politician and former PM Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on unification of Muslim League factions. Jamali advises Musharraf to stay away from politics. The former Pak PM gives his side of the story on his removal as PM during Musharraf era.

3 July 2010 episode of PAkistani talk show Do Tok carries exclusive interview with Barrister Kamal Azfar (PPP) who gives his views on NRO, Swiss Cases, BB, Zardari, CIA and GHQ being behind conspiracies, Babar Awan as law minister, etc. Says: Musharraf came to power on CIA’s instructions, the worst is over, and that Musharraf should be tried for BB’s murder and Bugti’s murder