The news that Gen Musharraf is planning to stage a comeback politically is quite amusing. It also appears that there is indeed a following for him, however small, and support from quarters which matter is also there.

Honestly speaking, if you look at the job description of Pakistan's politics he qualifies all hands down.

His experience to deal with Americans and his stature amongst international politicians give him high points.

He is the most suitable candidate to handle Indian politicians and he is popular with the Indian people in spite of the Kargil incident.

The question is is he sincere in his desire to undo what wrong he has done to the country or will it be yet another ploy to cover his past deeds?

The people of Pakistan are about to fall into another mesmerising trap and another period of high drama and tension. Fasten your seat belts.

M. IQBAL BHATTY
Via email

(II)

Your editorial “Political ambitions” (June 10) regarding Pervez Musharraf's latest ambition to enter Pakistan's politics as head of the newly -aunched party All-Pakistan Muslim League is quite candid.

It is astonishing that Gen Musharraf, who subverted the constitution, committed high treason as defined under Article 6 of the constitution and overthrew an elected prime minister, wants to join politics by forming a new party.

During the nine years of his absolute control over apparatus, Musharraf inflicted a severe blow to democratic and state instuitions.

The masses have still not forgotten the wrongs perpetrated by the dictator during the nine years of his unconstrained misrule.

It was he who manipulated the MMA, a conglomerate of religious parties, to power in the former NWFP and Balochistan and when the extremists got out of control, he at the prodding of the US, blindly threw the whole country into the cauldron of war on terror.

Moreover, the economic conditions of the country, for which Musharraf and his acolytes never ceased to take credit, were not good either.

It was later revealed that in order to show better economic results, statistics were fudged and finally people were left burdened with colossal foreign loans (Rs56 billion as against Rs36 billion in 1999).

The biggest-ever financial scams such as Bank of Punjab and artificial stock exchanges, Steel Mills, etc., where billions of rupees of public money was lost, were exposed.

I agree with you that the former dictator must be prepared to face possible charges against him if he finally decides to return to Pakistan.

M. A TURK
Badin