Pak political parties differ over charging Musharraf

October 3rd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has said a multifaceted strategy is needed to deal with the Taliban effectively. Musharraf, who is on a lecture tour of the US currently, said that while the Al-Qaeda should be eliminated from Pakistan by force, dealing with the Taliban would require a military, political and socio-economic approach.

September 16th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Muslim League-N has moved a privilege motion in the National Assembly (NA) against the statement of President Asif Ali Zardari on giving the safe passage to the former president Pervez Musharraf. The motion signed by 91 MNAs has been brought by Hanif Abbasi, Dr.

September 16th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Contradicting media reports over indemnity being granted to Pervez Musharraf, President Asif Ali Zardari's spokesman has said that there have been no negotiations with the so-called international guarantors to give indemnity to the former president. In a statement, Farhatullah Babar said the President Zardari in an informal talk on Monday with reporters had remarked that national political leaders and parties had held negotiations among themselves to chase Musharraf out of office and restore Presidency to the democratic forces.

September 16th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan, which already is engulfed in numerous problems, would only be adding to its troubles if it decides to prosecute former President General Pervez Musharraf under pressure from different political parties, an editorial has said. The editorial in The Dawn, one of Pakistan's leading dailies said that merely trying Musharraf would not solve Pakistan's problems, and said that the former general's trial would create more trouble for the tattered nation rather than resolving issues.

September 7th, 2009 LAHORE - Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that his recent meeting with Saudi King Abdullah was a success. "I was accorded full protocol during my visit to Saudi Arabia to meet King Abdullah, I deem him as my elder brother and can contact him whenever I want," a private TV channel quoted Musharraf, as saying.

September 5th, 2009 JEDDAH - Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz has invited Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif and Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to discuss Pakistan's political situation and the issue of former president Pervez Musharraf's trial, the Online news agency reported Saturday. Sources said that Sharif and Chaudhry would go to Saudi Arabia this month to meet King Abdullah, who has also urged Musharraf to avoid taking any step which may vitiate the political climate in Pakistan Musharraf said in London that the Saudi king was worried over the prevailing situation in Pakistan, and wanted the political leadership to demonstrate maturity and responsibility and take steps for the country's development.

September 4th, 2009 LAHORE - Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Syed Munawar Hassan has said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has signed a secret deal with former President General Pervez Musharraf that awarded clemency to him from being tried under high treason charges. Interacting with media persons after an Iftar party here, Hassan said the PML-N was also a part of the government like the MQM, ANP and JUI.

August 30th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf may strike a deal with the Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz (PML-N) to escape the high treason trial under Article Six of the Constitution. According to sources close to Musharraf, the former Army Chief is trying to seal a pact with the PML-N under which he would formalize his exile in Britain and stay 'quiet' for at least 10 years.

August 29th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - A majority of Pakistanis believe that former President General Pervez Musharraf should be punished for his 'unconstitutional' and 'extra-judicial' actions taken on November 3, 2007, an opinion poll has revealed. According to a survey conducted by the Gilani Research Foundation, 52 percent of people favour harsh punishment for Musharraf while 19 percent are of the view that the former Army Chief should receive only 'mild' punishment.

August 25th, 2009 LAHORE - Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has said he would return to Pakistan soon and initiate talks with country's political leaders. "I will soon return to Pakistan and begin consultations with political leaders of the country," The Daily Times quoted Musharraf, as saying.

August 24th, 2009 LAHORE - The US and UK governments were key players in facilitating the escape of former President Pervez Musharraf, whereas the Pakistan People's Party and the PML-N are consistently deceiving the nation by not acting to apprehend the national offender, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Punjab Waseem Akhtar has said. He said the PPP Government's attitude clearly gave the idea that they wanted to suppress the accountability of Musharraf for his hideous constitutional crimes.

August 18th, 2009 LONDON - Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf will launch a new political party soon, the Online news agency reported Tuesday. A councilor of Britain's Conservative Party disclosed this to a TV Channel here.

July 29th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - In an apparent move to counter legal cases lodged against him, Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf may launch a new political party. Speculations are rife that Musharraf is pondering over launching a new political party as his close associates have advised him to avoid appearances in media particularly when he and PML-Q's Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain are at 'loggerheads'.

July 10th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Muslim League- Quaid (PML-Q) is ready to accept former President General Pervez Musharraf as a 'party worker'. Talking to media persons at the party's central secretariat here, PML-Q leader Kamil Ali Agha said his party would welcome Musharraf if he decides to join his party instead of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

June 27th, 2009 LAHORE - Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has claimed that he came near to resolving the Kashmir dispute during the infamous Agra summit in 2001. In an interview to a private television channel, Musharraf said that he and the then India Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had even agreed to draft a joint declaration regarding the Kashmir issue, but blamed New Delhi for ditching Islamabad at the last moment.