PAKISTAN: Dismissing security threats, former President Pervez Musharraf says he and his party will contest upcoming elections, scheduled to be held on May 11

Record ID: 859229

  • Title: PAKISTAN: Dismissing security threats, former President Pervez Musharraf says he and his party will contest upcoming elections, scheduled to be held on May 11
  • Date: 27th March 2013
  • Summary: KARACHI, PAKISTAN (MARCH 27, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF HOTEL 'AVARI TOWER', THE VENUE OF NEWS CONFERENCE, POLICE CAR ON THE RIGHT CORNER IN THE PICTURE HOTEL BUILDING TRAFFIC IN STREET
  • Embargoed: 11th April 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan
  • City:
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAJQYMDB9CW084UIR0MY1AMBQA
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  • Story Text: Shrugging off security threats former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf said on Wednesday (March 27) that he and his party will contest upcoming elections which are scheduled to be held on May 11.
    Musharraf returned to Pakistan on Sunday (March 24) after more than four years of self-exile to contest the elections despite the possibility of arrest and death threats from the Taliban.
    Pakistan's Taliban may be Musharraf's most immediate concern, having threatened in a video on Saturday (March 23) to despatch suicide bombers and snipers to kill him and send him to "hell".
    Musharraf was due to hold a rally on Sunday afternoon which was cancelled. Al Qaeda assassins have tried to kill Musharraf at least three times in the past.

    "The threats were present at that time as well (when I was president). I have lived a life amidst threats. And then now, the threats are continuing," Musharraf told reporters at a news conference in Karachi on Wednesday.
    Musharraf who has been granted bail in advance to avoid being arrested upon his return, may soon run into legal problems and could be detained at a later date.
    He said he had no way of gauging how successful he would be come election time.

    "At this point of time, I can not give you the exact assessment but I hope to win many seats. I can not say, as it is said, that I will bring a tsunami, I can not say that at the moment,'' he said.

    "Let us see what happens, how does our party performs in elections. Let us see whether we are able to form a coalition or not. After that I will decide about myself. As I said earlier that my aim is to break the political status quo and shape up a new political force. If I do not succeed in this then I will have to think about my political future," he added.
    While many people have shown support for Musharraf, others are not sure about his political future.

    "I don't think he had an obstacle in returning Pakistan. This is his country; he could come back anytime being a citizen of this country. Now he has arrived, this country has owned him. However, I can not say whether or not he has a political future here," said Abid Ali, a journalist in the capital Islamabad.

    "We support Musharraf because masses were happy and prosperous in his era. During past five years people have seen worries, unemployment, sky-rocketing prices. People have been really worried during these five years," said businessman, Mohammad Imran in Karachi.
    Musharraf resigned in 2008 when his allies lost a vote and a new government threatened him with impeachment. He left the country a year later.
    He faces charges of failing to provide adequate security to former prime minister Benazir Bhutto before her assassination in 2007. He also faces charges in connection with the death of a separatist leader in south-western Baluchistan province. He denies any wrongdoing.
    Musharraf angered the Taliban and other groups by joining the American war on terror following the September 11, 2001 attacks and by later launching a major crackdown on militants.
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