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ISLAMABAD: All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) chairman retired Gen Pervez Musharraf has said that he was all set to return to the country but the Supreme Court order forced him to change his mind.
Speaking to journalists through a video link, the former president said the apex court order “barring the authorities from arresting me till my appearance before the august court has forced me to rethink my plans about return”.
“There will be no benefit of my return to the country if I am arrested just after my appearance before the court,” he said.
“The entire world knows that I am not a coward, but now I will wait for an appropriate time to return,” Mr Musharraf said.
In reply to a question about the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) probe into his assets, the former army chief said he was living in a three-bedroom apartment and the bureau must investigate his assets and he would fully cooperate with it.
Before the video-link interaction with journalists, Mr Musharraf also addressed the APML’s National Assembly candidates and answered their questions.
Meanwhile, APML president Dr Muhammad Amjad said that Mr Musharraf was willing to return to the country, but the Supreme Court had given him insufficient time under which arrangements for his travel, accommodation and security could not be made.
He alleged that the caretaker government was not allowing Mr Musharraf’s return as it had blocked his CNIC and passport when the Supreme Court asked the APML chief to come back to the country.
Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2018
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Comments (89) Closed
Jun 21, 2018 08:51am
Come back and face the courts if you are not a coward sir...
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Jun 21, 2018 08:52am
Once a coward always a coward.
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Jun 21, 2018 09:00am
Former President Gen (rtd) Pervez Musharraf is absolutely right. The SC assurance was not absolute, and not clear, the SC and we all know that Gen ( rtd) Pervez Musharraf CNIC & Passport was in " blocked " position when SC invited him to come, and submit election papers, and what can happen after that, there was no assurance. The remnants of PML(N) are still enjoying power, and they may harm Gen (rtd) Pervez Musharraf, or create scene of disrespect to General Sahab. Ofcourse General Sahab will come like a shining star, once the situation become congenial.
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Jun 21, 2018 09:01am
Long Live the General!
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Jun 21, 2018 09:03am
Since Pakistani courts can not come to UK and decide your innocent,You have to come Pakistan and face the Courts Justice and outcome.
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Jun 21, 2018 09:04am
He is a coward. He used medical issue to lie and leave the country and government has no option as establishment ordered them to do it. Courts are all aware of it and current court proceedings were just drama.
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Jun 21, 2018 09:06am
Mr. Musharraf, we are not looking forward to welcoming you in Pakistan. You have already done enough damage to the country.
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Jun 21, 2018 09:08am
Mr Musharraf you should gracefully retire from public life and look after your grand kids.
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Jun 21, 2018 09:09am
What are the cases against him? Why does he even have to xome to court in person? He has not done anything wrong by removing corrupt Nawaz government. Courta should either remove the cases itself or let his lawyer fight it.
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Jun 21, 2018 09:12am
Musharraf is not a coward..also he is not a fool
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Jun 21, 2018 09:13am
Dear Brave Commando
Walk your talk
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Jun 21, 2018 09:17am
Most Honorable man
Very Sharp
Great decision !!
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Jun 21, 2018 09:23am
Nawaz Sharif has attended over 100 hearings in the last 6 months unlike our brave cammando.
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Jun 21, 2018 09:31am
@JAY I am sure you are a very smart person. But please do not equate courage with stupidity. Musharraf and Ayub Khan were the best thing that happened to Pakistan after MA Jinnah’s death.
It appears that many of us see democracy as the silver bullet. Alas, that is not so. As long as we have a below 30 percent literacy rate and poverty amongst the majority of the populace, the democratic model does not have a chance to work.
So it’s time to rearrange our priorities. Rather than singing the platitudes if democracy, we ought to be relentless in our pursuit for education, economic well-being and healthcare, regardless of the form of government.
Just look at China.
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Jun 21, 2018 09:33am
@Mudassir He is not stupid.
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Jun 21, 2018 09:48am
Mr Musharraf is great with words only like a genuine coward.
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Jun 21, 2018 09:52am
@Punter Have you ever dared to put on a uniform and went to the front to face Indian Army. Musharaf fought wars and went behind the enemy line several times , who is the coward ??.
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Jun 21, 2018 09:52am
I do admire Pervaiz Musharraf but still he should follow the rule of the law and face the court. Then clear him self of charges that are against him. Like it or not, still the decision or verdict of court has to be accepted either against or for. In first place Musharraf should not have ran away. He should have corporated with court.
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Jun 21, 2018 09:59am
Fair argument. He has a right to protect himself and avoid arrest, if he feels the Court's orders are not specific enough.
I think he should stay away until a new civilain government is in place.
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Jun 21, 2018 10:05am
@Harris Mustafa . Agree.
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Jun 21, 2018 10:10am
Don't you think its awful to describe your reason to postpone your plan to return linked to a potential arrest and a fear to be sent to jail. On the other side you are still claiming to be "Not a Coward".
This is the same country where you have ruled for years and if you think there were any shortcomings to the justice system, you should have addressed it while on seat. Unfortunately whenever it comes to implementation of rules and law on the elite, they get medical issues to stay away.
Come and face the law. If you are right, no one will be able to send you behind bars. Liar
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Jun 21, 2018 10:10am
He should not be called former President he was a dictator never elected.
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Jun 21, 2018 10:10am
The whole world knows that he is the biggest coward
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Jun 21, 2018 10:10am
Even kid Malala is not afraid to visit her motherland who was almost killed here. If she get chance evwn without anybody assurance she would jump to visit Pak.
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Jun 21, 2018 10:10am
Mr. Musharraf is irrelevant to Pakistani politics, but he tries to remain relevant through media. He is a coward, who managed to escape the country with the connivance of shrewd politicians and pressure from the military establishment and knows well that, if he choose to returns back to Pakistan, he will be behind bars.
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Jun 21, 2018 10:20am
Not a coward but afraid of facing justice
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Jun 21, 2018 10:29am
By any means Pervez Musharraf is right , why should he put his jeoprdise his safety when nothing is working well here .
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Jun 21, 2018 10:32am
I think the generals told him that he will be on his own if he comes this time.
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Jun 21, 2018 10:51am
A coward indeed.
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Jun 21, 2018 11:54am
He is not a coward or an emotional fool. He is smart and understands the cruel Pakistani system of injustice so he is staying away from the vultures
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Jun 21, 2018 12:11pm
@Jalbani Baloch "Mr. Musharraf is irrelevant to Pakistani politics, " Pakistani politics is irrelevant to Pakistan. Pakistani politics is thriving with Nawaz, Imran, Zardari, while Pakistan is struggling. Obviously there is no place for him.
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Jun 21, 2018 12:16pm
@Zia . Corrupt govt has to be removed by people and not by the army.
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Jun 21, 2018 12:24pm
@AW :Very true. Those Pakistanis who are calling their Retired General Musharraf coward should be ashamed. Though he is a Mohazir but he proved to be a patriot Pakistani.
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Jun 21, 2018 12:28pm
The entire world knows that I am not a coward, but now I will wait for an appropriate time to return,” Mr Musharraf said."
Well world also knows that you were a COMANDO andbeing that you fear to face law of land.What else you are required to be called.
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Jun 21, 2018 12:29pm
Why should he come back and face the music in courts, whereas, he is enjoying the luxury life style in Abu Dhabi surrounded by good food and surroundings? Who wants uneasy time in his old age - Pervaz Musharaff is no exception!
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Jun 21, 2018 12:48pm
''the entire world knows that he is not a coward?''. Well, if that is really the case than why hiding abroad. People who were willing to vote for you, have also changed their minds
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Jun 21, 2018 12:52pm
In my opinion he should come back and face the courts although i support him he shouldnt dictate his terms. He should act like a fighter. I am sure he will come out of cases if he is honest. He shouldnt loose this opportunity of elections at this stage as it might be his last chance given his age and not returning to country will decrease his popularity among people who support him and also lead to break up factions of APML
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Jun 21, 2018 12:52pm
His CNIC and Passport is renewed. What else he was interested in?
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Jun 21, 2018 12:53pm
@qamar do you know the meaning of damage?
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Jun 21, 2018 01:19pm
@Sami Ullah "His CNIC and Passport is renewed. What else he was interested in?" Maybe the same treatment as NS and Maryam.
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Jun 21, 2018 01:21pm
@BK "Corrupt govt has to be removed by people and not by the army." The army belongs to the people, not the corrupt government.
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Jun 21, 2018 01:32pm
@Nasir Khan "Well, if that is really the case than why hiding abroad." He's not hiding, everybody knows where he is and makes sure you know it. Why don't you ask UAE to hand him over? Maybe because you already know their answer. Will you provide the same protocol and security that is provided to the Sharif family? The Punjab house and other government facility to hold party meeting, official cars and protection, private house maintained the state etc? They are still using all these facilities even though they are no more in government. If they are assured that they will never be arrested, why can't he?
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Jun 21, 2018 01:44pm
After the elections please come and face charges and clear your name. The nation needs your service. Your intelligence and good statesmanship can neither be ignored nor wasted.
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Jun 21, 2018 01:48pm
His actions show that he is no commando rather a coward who does not want to face reality!
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Jun 21, 2018 01:53pm
Great visionary leader took Pakistan towards betterment. Thank you for the good leadership, retire and enjoy your life, educated Pakistanis know your valuable contribution towards progress of Pakistani people and our nation Pakistan as a whole.
Pakistan ZIndabad! Pak Fauj Paindabad!
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Jun 21, 2018 02:04pm
@Noroz Khan so he says
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Jun 21, 2018 02:28pm
Why he doesn't face court or jail ?
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Jun 21, 2018 02:33pm
Now, he can not claim that he is not a coward person.
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Jun 21, 2018 02:40pm
you are a coward. proved by your actions
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Jun 21, 2018 02:49pm
bottomline- he's scared but ..... just a long explanation to deny it.
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Jun 21, 2018 02:50pm
You are a coward. Period!!
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Jun 21, 2018 03:02pm
@Syed when his party was in power and ran when his Govt. was packed.
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Jun 21, 2018 03:04pm
@Harris Mustafa Those who call the era of Ayub Khan and then Musharraf a blessing or even a golden period are victims of myopic vision incapable of seeing the so of obvious malaise of military dictatorships that by disenfranchising the whole nation, intellectuals and common man alike, the natural growth and developed of institutions was totally arrested and policies for every department or facet of national destiny were framed, designed and executed by one super genius of one individual whose wisdom he thought was superior to the combined wisdom of the rest of his fellow countrymen. To day if the country stands divided & halved, it is the blessed gift of that dictatorial rule that some still call “the golden rule”. It’s this rule constantly one after the other that has hollowed the national treasury, deprived the people of the most fundamental needs by forming alliances and collisions with the most corrupt of the nation like Sharif & co, & so many other vile characters.
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Jun 21, 2018 03:07pm
@Harris Mustafa No, he surely is not stupid. That would be an understatement; he is a crook and a coward on a lam from the law of his country that he plundered
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Jun 21, 2018 03:08pm
Gen Musharaf has full support of Overseas Pakistanis, as we saw the difference in the country during his Govt. from the outside prospective, as the world used to see us.
It is on record that Overseas Pakistanis remitted money the most during his time I remember at that time Pakistani Banks abroad had to start evening banking just for the remittances to Pakistan and we had to wait in ques.
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Jun 21, 2018 03:15pm
Musharraf, you are an absconder?
You enjoyed many years of Power. Like other leaders messed the Country.
Time to shut up.
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Jun 21, 2018 03:35pm
@ Syed Zafar Kazmi U.S.A Totally agree with your thoughts
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Jun 21, 2018 03:48pm
@Zia Please read up before commenting.
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Jun 21, 2018 03:51pm
No Sir you are a coward !
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Jun 21, 2018 03:57pm
@Noroz Khan how many wars did he win?
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Jun 21, 2018 04:28pm
Musharraf is no Benazir who came to Pakistan even After Musharraf refused to provide her full security and remained here after first attempted attack on her life.
He is a coward!
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Jun 21, 2018 04:30pm
@Chirag Patel Ask your father, if he is an Indian.
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Jun 21, 2018 04:37pm
He is right not to come in this volatile situation in Pakista at the moment. He can wait for the right time to come back.
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Jun 21, 2018 04:48pm
Coward.
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Jun 21, 2018 05:28pm
I think Gen. Musharraf did well not to return to Pakistan and he will do better if he stops talking about it.
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Jun 21, 2018 06:51pm
The whole episode was to unblock your CNIC and Passport. You never intended to return, nor you will.
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Jun 21, 2018 07:13pm
One way or the other he has to face his day in court. He should not be afraid and make excuses if he is clean.
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Jun 21, 2018 07:42pm
Entire world knows who you are ..... don't try explaining what you are incapable of understanding
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Jun 21, 2018 08:48pm
@Sayyar Khan he was elected to office of president. you can dispute the results, but that did happen.
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Jun 21, 2018 09:10pm
You are not general, you are special!
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Jun 21, 2018 09:37pm
@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani well, then he should stop pretending that he wants to.
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Jun 21, 2018 09:50pm
What a cruel, silly, shameless and brutal joke?
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Jun 21, 2018 09:55pm
Me Musharraf, the true lion of Pakistan.
We stand united with you General.
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Jun 21, 2018 10:00pm
Amazing. A leader who put Pakistan on the growth track and made the most progress in his 10 years has to leave but the leaders who had 30 years to show any progress and who looted the country are freely roaming around. I guess Pakistanis deserve what they get. A 115 rs dollar vs 60 rs that he was able to hold for 10 years. What a shame for not understanding who delivered and who plundered.
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Jun 22, 2018 01:35am
Leaders don't afraid from arresting / jail.. They love to live with their people in their country. . Look at the bravery of Quaid I Azam , Bhutto etc..
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Jun 22, 2018 05:57am
@Punter So are you
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Jun 22, 2018 05:58am
@Magnanimous approach Well said.. Ameen!!
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Jun 22, 2018 05:59am
@Mudassir Why don't you first prosecute Nawaz, Shabaz and Zardari??
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Jun 22, 2018 06:11am
Musharraf is one of the best Pakistan got. Long live Musharraf!
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Jun 22, 2018 06:32am
@Noroz Khan So what was the outcome!!! has Pakistan got an inch of Indian land!!! Certainly not, then it was just a misadventure that costed dearly to already limited economic resources available for poor masses of Pakistan!!!! wars and conflicts are the most expensive adventures and it is ultimately the masses who have to finance such over ambitious plans
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Jun 22, 2018 07:10am
A word of advice for the retired General Sahab, please stay away from the dirty business of politics and enjoy your life. There it wasn't much good happened in your time in government nor we expect any better now. Please stop fooling the emotional Pakistani people! Thank you for your great service to the Mighty PAK Army.
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Jun 22, 2018 11:39am
@qamar what damage he had done to country. was not as currupt as today so called polliticians.
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Jun 22, 2018 10:29pm
Musharaff says that the whole world knows that he is not a coward. I for one did not know that.
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Jun 23, 2018 02:38am
No need to explain, General. We understand. No one wants to end up in jail.
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Jun 23, 2018 05:35am
He is a coward and that's exactly why he isn't returning.
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Jun 23, 2018 08:20am
Musharaff a great leader and nation is unlucky .
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Jun 23, 2018 08:21am
Entire world knows that you are not only coward but also liar.
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Jun 23, 2018 08:41am
How come the "weak" politicians are willing to face the courts but the "brave" commandos are hiding?
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Jun 23, 2018 11:25pm
@khan. You hit the nail in the head. This coward who usurped power was a rogue dictator.. I bet he can't even win a local election let alone would become president. For all their faults, politicians have more legitimacy & courage than this rat.
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