August 21, 2008	Thursday	Sha'aban 18, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 20: Former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf is reported to have said he does not plan to take part in ‘active politics’ and that he will not join the PML-Q.

Talking to a 40-member delegation of the PML-Q which had called on him on Wednesday, Mr Musharraf said he was neither leaving the country nor selling his farmhouse. “I will stay with my family in Islamabad.”

There have been reports in the media that the former president is going to perform Umra and from Saudi Arabia he will move to the United States where his son and brothers settled.

Some private TV channels claimed that he had already obtained the visa and would leave for Jeddah soon.

The delegation, led by PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, included Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi, Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Tariq Azeem Khan, Nisar A. Memon, Marvi Memon, Dr Atia Inayatullah, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Ghaus Bakhsh Maher, Amir Muqam, Sardar Jamal Leghari and Awais Leghari.

Marvi Memon told Dawn after the meeting that Mr Musharraf was in a ‘relaxed mood’ and wanted to live a peaceful life with his family.

“He is not prepared to join the PML-Q at least for the time being nor is he interested in taking part in active politics.”

However, she said he had not been invited to join the PML-Q.

Ms Memon said Mr Musharraf told the delegation he thought that resignation was the right thing to do in the situation.

She said the former president had avoided saying anything against the ruling coalition, although the delegation members criticised the government for its failure on various fronts.