On 1st Oct 2010 former Pakistani President Pervaiz Musharraf officially launched his new political party the All Pakistan Muslim League in London. He promised to bring an end to the current problems facing Pakistan, to make ‘jihad’ against poverty and illiteracy and to bring an end to nepotism and corruption. He also sought to apologies to the nation for the mistakes he made towards the end of his reign.

Musharraf stated his intention to return to Pakistan before the 2013 elections, to seek to come into office as either Prime Minister or President and to be the country’s saviour.

It is worth noting that between 1999 and 2008 he, first as military dictator then President, had nine years to rescue Pakistan.

After the events of 9/11 Musharraf sold out the blood of the Muslims in Afghanistan by choosing to side with America in its crusade against Muslims. He also targeted those within the country who hoped to help their brethren in Afghanistan and Kashmir by taking the fight to them. He gave up complete sovereignty of the country by allowing FBI offices to be established throughout Pakistan and by allowing America to spy on Pakistani citizens. He humiliated the father of the country’s nuclear program Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan on live television and had him placed under house arrest for alleged proliferation of nuclear technology. And who can forget the massacre of Muslims at Lal Masjid?

Will he also seek an apology for these mistakes?

Regarding the economy, when he came into power Pakistan’s external debt was $33 billion, when he resigned from office Pakistan’s debt had climbed to around $42 billion. The price of food was increasing leaving families unable to feed themselves, as was the price of fuel, gas and electricity. Many people committed suicide out of poverty or sold their children, as they could not afford to raise them. This is the same poverty he declared ‘jihad’ against both then during his tenure and now.

Are these mistakes he will seek an apology for?

As for bringing an end to corruption it was under Musharraf that the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) came into being which allowed corrupt politicians like the now late Benazir Bhutto back into the country. This ordinance wiped the slate clean for all corrupt politicians as it meant cases against them registered between 1st Jan 1986 till 12th Oct 1999 would be dropped. So those politicians facing charges for bribery, murder etc would not face them. This also meant that he would have political support from such politicians to strengthen him as president.

Will he now seek an apology for making deals with those corrupt politicians who looted the country?

It is clear from his previous tenure that Musharraf was nothing more than a loyal slave to America who gave up Pakistan’s sovereignty as well as abandoning the Muslims in Kashmir and Afghanistan. The talk of economic progress during his time in power is also false; one only has to see the poverty on the streets of Pakistan as well as the lack of gas, electricity and clean water during his reign. No amount of road building is a substitute for real infrastructure as well as rising suicides and increasing crimes such as robbery being committed out of desperation.

All of this is hollow talk from a man who brought nothing but humiliation for Muslims. How dare he now look for support from the people!

What Pakistan needs is real change in the form of a Khaleefah who will care for his citizens by providing them with resources, jobs, education and who will protect his citizens from the enemies of Islam by protecting the borders of the Khilafah. Muslims – the people of Pakistan – need to reject Musharraf – as well as Zardari and Nawaz Sharif and their like – dictators and democrats alike – and instead work to resume the just Khilafah state.