Musharraf and Chitral

E-Paper | March 11, 2026

ACCORDING to media reports, the nomination papers of Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf have been accepted for the National Assembly seat from Chitral (NA-32). His election campaign from that area is vigorously being run by his admirers.

It was a general impression that his papers would never be accepted as so many cases were pending against him. But all these cases were filed after he had left the country.

The people of Chitral will never forget his services in the area, especially the construction of 8.75km-long Lowari tunnel. In the absence of this tunnel, the people of Chitral had to travel to Peshawar through Afghanistan entailing a 14-hour-long journey. The Lowari tunnel would reduce this time by 50 per cent and the route would be open for 12 months a year.

This makes one thing abundantly clear. If a leader does something for the welfare of his people, the people also remember him for his services.

This one achievement of the general encouraged him to file his nomination papers from Chitral.

AIR CDRE (r) AZFAR A KHAN Rawalpindi

Contradiction IT has been reported that nomination papers of Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf have been accepted from the lone National Assembly constituency of Chitral. Earlier it was reported that his papers from other constituencies were rejected under Articles 62 and 63.

How could a person qualify in one part of the country and not so in other parts?

MIR TABASSUM MAIRAJ Islamabad

Appellate tribunal HOW can a person be both eligible and ineligible at the same time in the eyes of the law? If nomination papers of somebody have been rejected from any constituency in the country, it does mean that he is not qualified to contest elections according to the criteria described in Articles 62 and 63 of the constitution.

How a person can be allowed to run from another constituency until he is not permitted/allowed by the appellate tribunal of the relevant constituency from where his candidature has been rejected.

Constitutional bar regarding disqualification must be implemented throughout the country. It should not be limited to the geographical area of some constituencies.

It is not inexplicable how a person whose nomination papers have been rejected from three places is eligible to contest from a fourth place without clearance by respective appellate tribunals.

GHAFFAR KHOSO Badin

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Khan Baba

Apr 11, 2013 03:27am

Lets look from the other side: If nomination papers of somebody have been accepted from any constituency in the country, it does mean that he is qualified to contest elections according to the criteria described in Articles 62 and 63 of the constitution. A person should be allowed to run from any constituency. Musharaf is only charged and not proven guilty. And these charges are baseless. Do you think all the rest of the politicians are angels. Brother: they are more guilty than Musharraf. So sit tight and see.

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sraz45

Apr 11, 2013 07:09am

To put it politely you never use used paper cups. Time to seek young and honest leaders for a new beginning in Pakistan. On May 11th please vote wisely, is is your destiny.

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Mike Mohammad

Apr 11, 2013 12:51pm

By the same token, Shahbaz and Nawaz Shareef is also used paper cups. They run for more than 3 times and they should step and hand over to young generation. Their party did not produce any single leader for the last 25 yrs. Sick and tired to see the same old faces over and over again and their contribution in the nation building is zero. The same thing with other political parties. Gen. Musharraf has at least contributed a lo to the Pakistani nation. He was having a wonderful time overseas, he still want to serve the nation. It is irony in our Pakistan if someone wants to work he will not be able to work for doing good. If he was corrupt everybody will join him with both arms.

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Muhammad Ahmed Mufti

Apr 11, 2013 01:41pm

If nomination papers of Makhdom Amin and Nawaz Sharif can be accepted despite the court verdicts against them, then what is wrong with acceptance of Musharraf nomination papers. I think we have seen enough of this circus, its time to allow everyone to compete in elections and let the people decide.

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M. Siddique

Apr 11, 2013 04:46pm

I am not a fan of the person who has palyed with the constitution. But I must say the reasons given by the Returning Office of Chitral, that Musharaf has not been convicted of any crime, are most prudent. I want him behind bars also. But unless he is convicted he cannot be denied rights every Pakistani has. He must have the freedom to contest elections. We should refrain from judging anyone. Let the law take its own course and let him face the tunes of justice. Afterall we are participating in the elections to uphold the law. Then why sabotage it.

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M. Siddique

Apr 11, 2013 04:47pm

No two candidates should be compared. Everyone should run election on their own merit and record. Common sense, isn't it?

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khalidmurad1

Apr 11, 2013 09:57pm

A funny scene is going on they were pleading for mercy for these fraud degree jokers and humiliating people like Musharraf, who is invited internationally for his Geo Strategic and Geo Politics talks and Qadri Sahib, who is an International preacher. Since our brain has already drained out so we are brainless nation, thus we don't want people with brain and capabilities. Most interestingly it has been observed that the amount of hatered the Indians display against Musharraf the same degree of hatered and disgust is being displayed by our politicians and now the media. What a cohesion of mind and thinking. What a country and what a democracy?

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AHMAD

Apr 11, 2013 10:34pm

The rule is in their favor. The are are pending or in the process of investigation.

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Yash

Apr 11, 2013 10:57pm

Pakistan needs people with different and fresh thinking. The times have changed. Just to hate India is not going to work any more.Work and cooprate with India will be benifitial for both the countries.We could both be a great power togather.

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Zafar

Apr 12, 2013 02:24am

In my opinion this option of candidates to file from different districts is hoax. If someone does not live in district, why shoul he or she be allowed to run from that area. Politics and politicians need to be locals so that they are atuned to local problems. On the same of constitution, how many people know the constitution?

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Abdul Malik

Apr 12, 2013 02:48am

This is only possible in Pakistan.

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hassan bashir

Apr 12, 2013 03:35am

I am not a big Musharraf supporter. He has done some horrible things including implementing national emergency and having Justices resign, putting Abdul Qader in a house arrest, selling Habib Bank for pennies on the dollar. He has done some great things including killing Bugti, sending commandos into Lal Masjid, and sending our troops to FATA. There is no doubt that these cases against him are politically motivated. We as a general public should appreciate what he has done for the country. We can at least communicate are appreciations for him, albeit we may want to restrain voting for him. He made some big blunders.

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M. Alvi

Apr 12, 2013 03:50am

I think even if Musharraf wins one seat in National Assembly, he will have a voice that will be heard. Educated people support him. After all, Imran Khan had only one seat for 10 years.

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Mr. Khan

Apr 12, 2013 04:07am

Yes Khan, I agree. Musharaf will have a historical victory from Chitral

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Salim

Apr 12, 2013 04:34am

Parveiz Musharraf is innocent until proven guilty in the court of law. Let the people of Pakistan decide.

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Robert

Apr 12, 2013 05:49am

The question about Musharraf's nomination being accepted in one constiuency and rejected in the remaining three is completely irrelevant. The question of that nature is important in a nation where the rule of law is paramount. We are talking about Pakistan. Anything is possible in this country depending on series of circumstances.and who is doing what, where, and how. The question, why (?) , does not exist in the Pakistani nation.

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rashid

Apr 12, 2013 07:26am

i second ur views.. we deliberately fail to differentiate between mulzim and mujrim. he has offered himself to the courts and if the charges are proved in the due course of time he can be disqualified even if he is sitting in the parliament. but, like every other citizen of the country he has the right to contest election from any constituency of Pakistan and he should not be make a target of personal vendettas. he has served the country in different capacity and as a common citizen of the country i have seen better times during his rule as compared to the sham hereditary democracy!!! please let him face the people and let the people decide his fate.

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Mustafa

Apr 12, 2013 07:47am

Achievements of Pervez Musharraf Part 1: Empowerment of people through devolution at grass roots level. Empowerment of Women at all tiers of government / legislature. Legislation against honour killings. Women Protection Bill. Empowerment of minorities through joint electorate as well as reserved seats. Empowerment of younger generation by reducing voter age from 21 to 18 years. Empowerment of media by allowing total freedom to press and print media and flow of information. Empowerment of economy through wide ranging economic reforms. Record allocations for science and technology, education and health sectors. Emphasis on human resource development. Free, Fair, Transparent and Peaceful Elections

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Mustafa

Apr 12, 2013 07:49am

Achievements of Pervez Musharraf Part 2: Per capita income had increased from $ 526 (1999-00) to $925 (2006-07). Total revenue collections increased from Rs 308 billion in 1999 to Rs 846 billion during 2007. GDP growth which was 3.9% in 1999-00 grew at an average rate of 6% per annum during the period from 2000-07.

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Mustafa

Apr 12, 2013 07:51am

Achievements of Pervez Musharraf Part 3: 81 new universities including Degree Awarding Institutions (DAI) and 14,117 schools/colleges were opened. 1,267,519 stipends to the needy students. 47,546,520 students were provided books free of cost. 127,623 missing facilities were provided in educational institutions. Reservation of 20% women?s seats in the National Assembly (There were 72 women Members of the National Assembly against 60 reserved seats). Reservation of 18% seats for women in the Senate (There were 17 women Members of the Senate). Reservation of women seats in the Provincial Assemblies (There were 139 women Members of the Provincial Assemblies against 128 reserved seats). There were six (6) women members of the then Federal Cabinet, which was an important step towards increasing women?s role in the national decision ? making. We have a woman as Governor of the State Bank. Reservation of 33% seats for women at all tiers of local government remains a hallmark of the new system centered on the devolution of power (There are 27,624 Women Councilors against 28,549 reserved seats in local bodies). Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2004 (Honour Killing Bill) enacted. Reservation of quota for women in Government jobs including Central Superior Services. Presidential Ordinance promulgated on 8th of July 2006, ?the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006,? allowed bail for women held on all charges with the exception of terrorism and murder. Out of more than 6,000 jailed women, around 1,000 were freed. Enactment of Women Protection Act, 2006 which provides a just and secure environment for women to work as equal partners for the development of Pakistan.

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Mustafa

Apr 12, 2013 07:52am

Achievements of Pervez Musharraf Part 4: Work on 102 mega projects was initiated in various sectors from 2000. Such projects included Makran Coastal Highway, Lowari Tunnel, Pindi Bhattian ? Faisalabad Motorway (M-3), Karachi Northern Bypass, Mirani Dam, Raising of Mangla Dam, Gomal Zam Dam, Sabakzai Dam, Satpara Dam, Kachhi Canal, Rainee Canal, Greater Thal Canal, Gwadar Port, Lining of Watercourses, Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road, Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Neelum-Jhelum Hydro Electric Project and Islamabad-Muzaffarabad Road.

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