Musharraf's return certain, coalition with Imran Khan possible

02 March, 2013

Pakistan's former president and also the chief of army Pervez Musharraf, who is living in Dubai as part of the self-imposed exile has once again announced that he is returning to Pakistan to lead his party, the All Pakistan Muslim League, in parliamentary elections later this spring.

Musharraf, who is living in Dubai since last three years, said that within a week of dissolution of the Parliament, which is expected on March 16, he would return back to Pakistan. Once the Parliament is dissolved an interim government will take the charge to oversee the run-up to the election to be held within 90 days. Musharraf while talking to media said that his primary focus would be guiding his party in the Parliamentarian elections and the question of eying the presidential post will be dealt later.

Musharraf, who destabilized the civilian government after a coup in 1999 and later become President, fled the country in 2009 as he was facing risk of arrest on the charges of failing to provide adequate security to the slained ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and wife of the present President Asif Ali Zardari. According to some media reports Musharraf may seek the help of Saudi government to obtain a guarantee from the government of Pakistan that he would not be arrested after his arrival.

Defence analyst Bharat Verma said that unlike previous occasions this time chances of Musharraf returning back to Pakistan are almost certain as the army would have greater say in the interim government.

“Musharraf is very close to General Kayani. It was General Kayani, who had advised him last time not to go back to Pakistan as the government In Pakistan at that was not in his favor. And due to the international pressure and the environment there was no way Kayani could have upset that government that is running now. But with the caretaker government coming back it is obvious that he (Musharraf) has made arrangements where he is allowed to retunr and he is not arrested and face the charges against him in court. Therefor this time there are chances that he will go back. The army is in his favor as well as ISI. Saudi Arab is also working for allowing him to go back,” Defence Analyst Bharat Verma told this citizen journalist .

Verma said that Musharraf may also once again become the President as there are possibilities of coalition with Imran Khan's party that is also backed by the army.

With the help of ISI there are total possibilities that Musharraf wins back because right now it does not appear that there are any forces which can come back in power on their own. If Imran Khan is put as Prime Minister, it is possible that Musharraf become the President because they will join hands. Imran Khan is also backed by the army. They (army) don't want Nawaz Sharif as PM and Zardari's party may not be able make a come back. So probably a new coalition will be formed. Musharraf once goes back he will play some role or the other in the society,” added Verma.

As far as India is concerned, it is not going to either gain or loose anything whether Musharraf comes back to Pakistan or stays back in exile. “For India Pakistan is always a bad story, bad dream because the extremist path taken by the Pakistan is irredeemable. The strategic assets like Hafiz Saeed are supported by the Pak army, so those people will continue to play hell against India. It is very difficult to change Pakistan unless India becomes very courageous, annoyed and aggressive, which I don't thing happening in the Manmohan Singh regime,” said Verma.

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COMMENTS (2)

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Dayanand

The failed state Pakistan will create mess for India if a pro-army government comes in power. They enhance their support to fundmentalists who are anti-India.