Karachi:
Pakistan’s former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, who is facing serious criminal charges, today said his party will “fully” participate in the local government polls expected to take place later this year.
“We will fully take part in local government elections,” Musharraf who heads the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) said.
“We will go in local body polls with the slogan of ‘Pakistan first’ and win,” the former army chief said while chairing his party’s executive committee meeting.
“The party is incomplete without reorganisation. However, it should be at grassroots if you want to bring it at country-wide level,” he said.
Noting that politics in Pakistan faces a major challenge, 71-year-old Musharraf said the country progressed during his tenure due to fair distribution of resources.
“Pakistan needs a third political power,” Musharraf said while commenting on the need of third political party in the country.
Elections to elect local government representatives are expected to take place in three provinces later this year.
Musharraf hailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan for making efforts to emerge as third political power.
“Change in government is to be made through change in system,” Musharraf said.
Musharraf faces a string of court cases dating back to his 1999-2008 rule, including treason charges over his imposition of emergency rule in 2007 and involvement in the killing of Bugti and the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007.
He has also been charged in the judges’ detention case.
The former army chief grabbed power in 1999 in a bloodless coup and ruled till 2008.
Facing impeachment following elections in 2008, Musharrafv resigned as president and went into self-exile in Dubai. He returned to Pakistan after five years to contest the general elections in 2013 which he lost.
