Musharraf to return by last week of January

The chief of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), Pervez Musharraf on Sunday announced his return to the country, some time between Jan 27 and 30 this year, after remaining away from the country for over three years, saying that, despite life threats, Karachi would be his landing destination.
In a live-video speech from Dubai, the former military head, who remained till August 19, 2008 as President of Pakistan, termed a "quake" the public meeting, held on a large plot of ground close to the Mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Seeking support from the public during next general elections, the former president of the country said that with coming again into power his government would make the poor people prosperous and the country defendable, as he had done in his 10-year rule from 1999 to 2008.
A few thousand people could hardly reach from different parts of the country to attend the public gathering. They were carrying banners, placards and APML flags. Besides, some had in their hands the portraits of Musharraf. They periodically chanted slogans in favour of Musharraf.
The fresh cold waves in the metropolis not only caused shivering to the public but also made it difficult for reporters, cameramen and photographers to smoothly concentrate at the proceedings of the political gathering, which started at least two hours later than scheduled.
Musharraf said that he would develop the deprived and backward Balochistan province if the people supported him in the elections. He alleged that some elements, who wanted to keep the country's largest province poor and underdeveloped, were hatching plots against him.
He said that some forces were implicating him in the Akbar Bugti case and depicting him as anti-Baloch people, and added that "I respect the people of Balochistan, both Pushtuns and Baloch," and would always work for their development and prosperity.
"I rehabilitated the 7,000 Kalpar Bugti tribe and Marri tribe in Balochistan. I had prospered the people, not the Sardars," he said, adding that Baloch and Pushtuns were victims of poverty and deprivation.
Musharraf expressed preparedness to face the "baseless" cases against him in the courts, saying that he was being frightened in a bid to deter him from coming back to Pakistan, adding that he would return to his motherland, "regardless of life threats".
"I am not coming for myself. I am leading a comfortable life abroad where I am respected, but I am returning for the nation," he said, adding that his landing place would be Karachi, which, he said, "is the heart of Pakistan, and a home of all Pakistanis". He said he was ready to sacrifice his life for the betterment of the nation, and the country.
During the 10 years of government, he said, he made the poor prosperous, and the country invulnerable with boosting army, navy and air force capabilities with missile technologies and other such key military developments.
The former military leader also outlined his party's objectives to develop the country on modern lines, if succeeded in the polls, saying that with again coming into power "I will develop Balochistan and bring its people out of poverty and backwardness". By eliminating terrorism and extremism in the country, he said, it would be his government's key policy to bring out Pakistan of these problems. He also urged the religious scholars to help eradicate the menace of terrorism and extremism, saying tat terrorists were "using Islam as a shield" to launch attacks at shrines in the country.
He said his government would create jobs, control inflation, make the public livelihood better, and solve the people's longstanding problems, which the present government failed to address. However, he reiterated his demand to apply his political agenda, saying that public should support him in the coming elections.
Musharraf urged the nation to help his party grow and spread across the country by setting up offices at grass-roots levels. He said that organising of the APML was important to succeed in the polls to form its government. He also extended his support to the making of Hazara province, saying that it was his key objective, beside lauding MQM and its former City Nazim Mustafa Kamal and Governor Sindh Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan for developing Karachi.
The former President of Pakistan also enumerated a list of development projects which he accomplished during his government, saying that "no one should compare him with those leaders who have failed Pakistan or those who have not yet begun their career in the government".
Criticising the present government, he said that PIA had collapsed while railways department continued to reduce citing reports that number of train services had been cut. Whereas during his government, he said, new train services had been run because the country was thriving in financial terms. He said Pakistan was now on the verge of collapse.
Criticising the present government, Musharraf said that it had failed Pakistan, as the country has lost its pride globally and the government's own institutions are scuffling. "Foreign debt, which I left at $38 billion at the end of my government has gone up to $60 billion during this government," he said, adding that Pakistan was facing isolation, globally.
Other speakers included vice presidents of APML Dr Ghulam Mujtaba, Brig Haris Nawaz(retd), Pervaiz Ali Shah, and local leaders of the party. General Secretary of APML, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, and Ahmad Raza Kasuri, did not address the gathering though they were present on the stage.