ISLAMABAD - Former president Pervez Musharraf has announced a new political alliance, inviting Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) to join it.
Addressing a session of his All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) through video-link Friday, Musharraf said all parties representing Muhajir community should be united. “I invite MQM-P and PSP to join new political alliance that we are making,” he said.
The APML chief said MQM is an infamous name now and brings bad reputation to Muhajirs. He suggested the community should leave everything and be Pakistani first.
About the nature of alliance, he said that all the member parties will contest together with one name. He called the new alliance as Pakistan Awami Alliance, announcing that its office will be established in Islamabad.
He rejected the reports about replacing Farooq Sattar as MQM-P chief. Musharraf claimed several leaders in the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are ready to quit the party and a new political force will emerge soon.
He also invited Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) to join the alliance. “Chaudhry Pervez Elahi supported me and had performed well in Punjab,” the former president added.
He announced that he will soon return to Pakistan. “Things have changed now and ex-PM Nawaz Sharif is not behind courts. Sharif’s political future is zero,” he claimed.
INP adds: Musharraf said, “I do not want any security as the country situation is better now.I would return at an appropriate time so that the development work in the country cannot be disturbed.”
The ex-president will lead the 23-party alliance while Iqbal Dar has been appointed its secretary general. Accusing Imran Khan of just thinking about PTI, the former army chief urged the PTI chief to join the new coalition.
Musharraf who was charged with treason by a special court last year and was declared an absconder in the Benazir Bhutto murder case in August this year announced he was ready to face all charges as the courts were not under Nawaz Sharif’s control anymore. “The accountability process should not be affected by my arrival in Pakistan,” the former president said, adding the courts and the armed forces must be allowed to function as both institutions were working in the country’s favour.
The political parties that have already joined PAI are All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), Pakistan Awami Tehreek, Sunni Ittehad Council, Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen, Pakistan Sunni Tehreek, Muslim Conference, PML-Junejo, PML-Council, PML-National, Awami League, Pak Muslim Alliance, Pakistan Mazdoor Ittehad, Conservative Party, Muhajir Ittehad Tehreek, Pakistan Insani Huqooq Party, Millat Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan-Niazi Group, Aam Loag Party, Aam Admi Party, Pakistan Masawat Party, Pakistan Minority Party, Jamiat Mashaikh Pakistan and Social Justice Democratic Party. APML Secretary General Dr Amjad announced an upcoming convention at Aiwan-e-Iqbal in Lahore, and a rally in Karachi in December.
Mush announces 23-party alliance
