Former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf has suggested
that an interim government, authorised by the Supreme Court (SC) to
carry out constitutional amendments, was the only solution to the
challenges being faced by the country.
He expressed these views while talking to DawnNews
on Saturday. "The proposed technocrat interim government should be
provided with a considerable time to hold the corrupt politicians
accountable," Musharraf said, adding that the interim setup should not
be bound to "hold elections in three or six months", as according to him
it would not serve the purpose of its placement.
Commenting
on the recent statement by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in
which he had voiced fears regarding the future of the incumbent
government, Musharraf said the current government "will not complete its
tenure". He was in favour of "ousting the PML-N government".
When
asked about the PML-N's narrative that apparently the army was plotting
to expel the government, he said: "I don't know what the Aabpara [a
veiled reference to the military's intelligence arm] is doing, but every
Pakistani who is making efforts to oust the government was justified in
doing so."
Those politicians who are talking about the
greater plan [the perception that the army was planning to oust the
government] are corrupt and useless, he said. Musharraf also accused
such politicians of nepotism.
"Corrupt politicians have
always compelled the army to take over," he said while trying to justify
past martial laws in the country.
"I want, from the
depths of my heart, the removal of the ruling regime," he said, adding
that it would be in the better interest of the state if the incumbent
government doesn't complete its tenure. An interim government should be
placed to put the country on the right track, Musharraf said.
"In
Pakistan, the state and the Constitution often come at odds with each
other. We need to save the country and make democratic amendments to
ensure that corrupt elements do not come again at the helm of affairs,"
he said.
The retired general disagreed that politicians
can't be ousted until and unless masses reject them. "This narrative
will lead to a clash between the judiciary and the executive," he added.
He,
however, praised Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, saying:
"Among an available lot of politicians, only Imran Khan has the charisma
to attract masses."
Talking about the role of the
judiciary, he said no one was talking about a martial law to bring a
positive change in the country, however, masses were looking forward to
the SC for some relief.
"The SC will have to find a way [to replace the incumbent government with an interim one]," he remarked.
Musharraf
suggested that the judiciary should take a start with striking down the
legislation that allows a convicted person to head a political party.
"They should declare it illegal and unconstitutional," he added.
"The prevailing rules and laws do not allow a change to take place," he said.
Citing
some quotations of Abraham Lincoln, he said the father of democracy
himself had confessed that he had broken laws and constitution.
Talking
about his vision and future plans, Musharraf said: "We should create
more provinces, it is essential to smoothly run the business of the
state."
The former president said he wanted to form a
multi-ethnic party and spread "Pakistanism". To a question, he said all
ethnic entities live in Karachi so it will be good to start a
multi-ethnic movement from there.
"I have to approach
masses. I don't want to head scattered groups of Muttahida Qaumi
Movement (MQM), neither they want me to chair them," Musharraf said
while negating the impression that he would head a party, comprising
various groups of MQM.
"There is a vacuum in Karachi. To me, the MQM is a failure and my approach is not to reinforce failures," he said.
I
want to make a new entity and ask the former voters of the MQM to come
under its ambit to form a government in their province, Musharraf said,
adding that he, however, will not lead them as he considers himself a
"national level leader" and that he will "not play on a provincial
level".
When asked what if the SC declares him disqualified, he said, in that case, he will sit calmly and say "Pakistan ka Allah hi hafiz" [Pakistan, may Allah Almighty save you].
