Former dictator
General Pervez Musharraf will meet Saudi King Abdullah, reportedly on
January 22, after his similar contacts with senior officials in
Washington to seek foolproof guarantees from President Zardari and Army
Chief General Kayani before announcing his return to Pakistan.
One of his close associates and American-Pakistani businessman Dr Raza Bokhari is also meeting US Ambassador Cameron Munter here on Wednesday afternoon to ensure that Musharraf is not arrested upon his return to Pakistan or prosecuted for any of the crimes he has committed during his military rule.
Musharraf is planning to come back on January 31 but would announce it only after he gets the required assurances from international players. Musharraf’s spokesman and All Pakistan Muslim League leader Chaudhry Fawad when approached said that he does not know about Musharraf’s meeting with King Abdullah but can confirm that the retired general is going to Saudi Arabia on 19th or 20th January to perform Umra.
About Raza-Munter meeting, he said that he is not aware of this meeting but admitted that some powerful capitals, who are worried about the worsening situation in Pakistan, want Musharraf to come back to Pakistan and play his role as a politician. Fawad said that Musharraf’s return date is January 31.
While many wait for Musharraf to come back and face cases like Akbar Bughti’s murder and the imposition of Nov 3, 2007 martial law, the ousted dictator wants guarantees through Washington and Riyadh that he is not touched and jailed.
A source close to Musharraf confirmed to this correspondent that the former dictator intents to get clear message conveyed to President Zardari and Army Chief General Kayani from the two influential capitals that Musharraf should be allowed to pursue his political goals.
The source said that a comprehensive lobbying in favour of Musharraf’s secure return to Pakistan has already been done in Washington and the Wednesday’s (today) meeting between Dr Raza Bokhari and Munter is the follow up of the same. A spokeswoman of the US embassy was contacted to find out about the meeting between Munter and Dr Raza but she did not respond till the filing of this report.
According to the APML source Musharraf plans to return from self-exile in the company of a large group of Pakistani Americans and journalists, both from the print and electronic media from Pakistan and the west.
Only recently The News had reported that Musharraf would not return to Pakistan unless the Army provides him security guarantees. The report while referring to minutes of APML meeting disclosed that Musharraf would land in the country only after a nod and approval from the Pakistan Army.
The APML leaders have been talking of preparing the party leadership for an upcoming interim set-up. Musharraf’s party has decided to spend at least Rs117 million for a ‘Welcome Pervez Musharraf’ publicity campaign while Rs6.29 million will be spent on transport and some other arrangements of only one public meeting to be held on his arrival.
The propaganda campaign, being finalised focusing Musharraf’s arrival, would defend the NRO as a step for stability of Pakistan, would claim that Baloch leader Akbar Bugti was killed rightly besides giving a comparative analysis of performances of the Pervez Musharraf government and the present PPP government and would explain the Kargil war.
Minutes of the meeting show Chaudhry Fawad asking his leader that he had made a big mistake by announcing an exact date of his arrival, which is not possible without a clear nod and approval of the Pakistan Army and the establishment.
Fawad also suggested to his party chief to seek support of important world capitals. The minutes show the APML leadership was unanimous in the opinion that Imran’s PTI was being supported by the ISI.
The minutes of the APMP meetings also show the party leaders worried about the possible arrest in case Musharraf really returns. Only one person, Dr Muhammad Amjad is quoted to have said that if the APML wants to survive then Musharraf must come back in time, and the party leaders should not be scared of arrests and jail. (The News)
One of his close associates and American-Pakistani businessman Dr Raza Bokhari is also meeting US Ambassador Cameron Munter here on Wednesday afternoon to ensure that Musharraf is not arrested upon his return to Pakistan or prosecuted for any of the crimes he has committed during his military rule.
Musharraf is planning to come back on January 31 but would announce it only after he gets the required assurances from international players. Musharraf’s spokesman and All Pakistan Muslim League leader Chaudhry Fawad when approached said that he does not know about Musharraf’s meeting with King Abdullah but can confirm that the retired general is going to Saudi Arabia on 19th or 20th January to perform Umra.
About Raza-Munter meeting, he said that he is not aware of this meeting but admitted that some powerful capitals, who are worried about the worsening situation in Pakistan, want Musharraf to come back to Pakistan and play his role as a politician. Fawad said that Musharraf’s return date is January 31.
While many wait for Musharraf to come back and face cases like Akbar Bughti’s murder and the imposition of Nov 3, 2007 martial law, the ousted dictator wants guarantees through Washington and Riyadh that he is not touched and jailed.
A source close to Musharraf confirmed to this correspondent that the former dictator intents to get clear message conveyed to President Zardari and Army Chief General Kayani from the two influential capitals that Musharraf should be allowed to pursue his political goals.
The source said that a comprehensive lobbying in favour of Musharraf’s secure return to Pakistan has already been done in Washington and the Wednesday’s (today) meeting between Dr Raza Bokhari and Munter is the follow up of the same. A spokeswoman of the US embassy was contacted to find out about the meeting between Munter and Dr Raza but she did not respond till the filing of this report.
According to the APML source Musharraf plans to return from self-exile in the company of a large group of Pakistani Americans and journalists, both from the print and electronic media from Pakistan and the west.
Only recently The News had reported that Musharraf would not return to Pakistan unless the Army provides him security guarantees. The report while referring to minutes of APML meeting disclosed that Musharraf would land in the country only after a nod and approval from the Pakistan Army.
The APML leaders have been talking of preparing the party leadership for an upcoming interim set-up. Musharraf’s party has decided to spend at least Rs117 million for a ‘Welcome Pervez Musharraf’ publicity campaign while Rs6.29 million will be spent on transport and some other arrangements of only one public meeting to be held on his arrival.
The propaganda campaign, being finalised focusing Musharraf’s arrival, would defend the NRO as a step for stability of Pakistan, would claim that Baloch leader Akbar Bugti was killed rightly besides giving a comparative analysis of performances of the Pervez Musharraf government and the present PPP government and would explain the Kargil war.
Minutes of the meeting show Chaudhry Fawad asking his leader that he had made a big mistake by announcing an exact date of his arrival, which is not possible without a clear nod and approval of the Pakistan Army and the establishment.
Fawad also suggested to his party chief to seek support of important world capitals. The minutes show the APML leadership was unanimous in the opinion that Imran’s PTI was being supported by the ISI.
The minutes of the APMP meetings also show the party leaders worried about the possible arrest in case Musharraf really returns. Only one person, Dr Muhammad Amjad is quoted to have said that if the APML wants to survive then Musharraf must come back in time, and the party leaders should not be scared of arrests and jail. (The News)
