NEW DELHI: Former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf does not see the likelihood of a military coup in Islamabad at present and he told an Indian news channel in an interview shown on Sunday that he was open to an alliance with Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, though the former military ruler would not “work under him”.
Gen Musharraf, who was speaking to popular host Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN channel from Dubai, believed Pakistan needed a third political option and Imran Khan offered that possibility.
“I believe in setting a vision and a strategy. My vision is that we have to, for the sake of Pakistan, we have to break the political status quo. We have to come with a third political option because otherwise, the two political options presently and in the past that have been tried, have failed.”
If Imran won and became the prime minister, was the retired general prepared to serve under him?
“No. These are later issues. If he wins, certainly he will be the prime minister. In a coalition, there are other things. Certainly I cannot serve under him. No. That is not a possibility.”
Explaining the need for his proposed return to Pakistan, he said there was a need to end the political status quo in Pakistan.
“So where do we go? If we go to the same people, it will be the same thing again, you keep down.
So in that context, I said we have to break the political status quo. If anyone can do it individually, well and good. Otherwise there is a need of coalition of forces which can bring about that third political option which can deliver to Pakistan.”
Gen Musharraf was aware that the choices were no easy to conjure. “You clap with two hands... What you said (about the alliance with Imran Khan being a possibility) is correct. There are people in his party who do not want an alliance with me.
Those who say that, they don’t understand what they are talking.”
He was aware of the danger to his life in Pakistan and was prepared to face arrest upon his return from exile.
“Well, the danger is there, of arrest, and I have considered that and one has to take that danger,” he said.
“The other thing is, (the possibility that) I will not return to power-that is a question mark. I am going back to contribute to the political situation and hopefully will do well in the election,” he said.
“I don’t think army intends to take over. The environment is not at all conducive for the army to take over. I think the army understands that,” he said.
Gen Musharraf added; “I am reasonably sure that army coup will not take place but my support always remains with the army.
I’ve been an army man and I can never imagine to be against the army...I am with the army, I will stand by the army.”
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