ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Shahzada Moheyuddin, a PML-Q MNA from Chitral, met former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf in Abu Dhabi recently and offered him to contest elections from his NA-24, Chitral, constituency.

According to sources, Shahzada Moheyuddin is confident that Mr Musharraf who heads the All Pakistan Muslim League recently formed by him would return home soon and visit his constituency to meet the people of Chitral. He praised the former military ruler for ordering resumption of construction work on the Lowari tunnel and launching a number of road and bridge projects in the Chitral district.

Meanwhile, AFP quoted Mr Musharraf as saying that his party was prepared for possible early elections as the government in Islamabad scrambled to save its ruling coalition.

The general said he would return to Pakistan “before the next election”.

“We are ready to contest elections,” he told journalists at his apartment in Dubai where he lives in self-exile.

“A little more time would be useful, as we are a new party. However, we will definitely try if the elections come early.”

The next election is not due until 2013.

“For the government to survive, the PML-N or the PML-Q has to support them. Such support will have a lot of consequences,” he said.“I strongly believe the real momentum for my party will start once I reach Pakistan. So we are trying to create an environment for me to reach there.”

Mr Musharraf said he did not rule out alliances with other political parties. “Many parties want to be with us. But I want my party to get a simple majority in the next elections so that we do not have to rely on others.”

He said he had made ‘mistakes’, including actions against the judiciary and imposing a state of emergency. He said he wanted to come to power with “the mandate of the public”.

He rejected claims he had succumbed to US pressure and said there were a few drone attacks during his tenure.

“Between 2003 and 2007 there were just nine drone attacks,” he said, adding there were more than 100 in 2010.