Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf intends to come out of his self-imposed exile to fight the country&#39;s general elections in 2018.

Musharraf stressed on the need to &quot;create a third political force&quot; to &quot;introduce better practical democracy&quot;.

Speaking to WION&#39;s Palki Sharma, the 73-year-old confirmed his intention to contend next year&#39;s elections: &quot;Yes, I am (looking to relaunch my political career.&quot;

However, Musharraf said he didn&#39;t have any ambitions to be the country&#39;s prime minister.

&quot;I want to create a political force. A third political force. But not necessarily be the next prime minister,&quot; the Dubai-based retired army chief said.

&quot;There are many good people who can run Pakistan,&quot; the former president said. &quot;I would like to contribute by using all my experience to guide someone who is good.&quot;

The former military ruler also downplayed criticism of his plan to ally with either&nbsp;Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) or cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

He said his earlier decision to join them was the need of the hour to ensure the country rid itself of corruption and nepotism.

&quot;It didn&rsquo;t come under criticism. I think, that was the call of the day. I think the requirement of a third political force that I am talking of needs combination or&nbsp;joining alliances of like-minded people, who see Pakistan in an enlightened and progressive way.&quot;

Musharraf, who took over the reins of Pakistan following a coup in 1999, was in a self-imposed exile since 2008. He returned to Pakistan in 2013 to contest the general elections, following which the government initiated a trial against him for treason.

Watch WION&#39;s two-part interview with former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XxyMjuvcaPM" width="560"></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1UM__upStLo" width="560"></iframe>

(WION)

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The former military ruler tells WION's Palki Sharma that he wants to 'create a third political force' in the country

Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf intends to come out of his self-imposed exile to fight the country's general elections in 2018. Musharraf stressed on the need to "create a third political force" to "introduce better practical democracy". Speaking to WION's Palki Sharma, the 73-year-old confirmed his intention to contend next year's elections: "Yes, I am (looking to relaunch my political career." However, Musharraf said he didn't have any ambitions to be the country's prime minister. "I want to create a political force. A third political force. But not necessarily be the next prime minister," the Dubai-based retired army chief said. "There are many good people who can run Pakistan," the former president said. "I would like to contribute by using all my experience to guide someone who is good." The former military ruler also downplayed criticism of his plan to ally with either Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) or cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan Tehreek-i-Insaf. He said his earlier decision to join them was the need of the hour to ensure the country rid itself of corruption and nepotism. "It didn’t come under criticism. I think, that was the call of the day. I think the requirement of a third political force that I am talking of needs combination or joining alliances of like-minded people, who see Pakistan in an enlightened and progressive way." Musharraf, who took over the reins of Pakistan following a coup in 1999, was in a self-imposed exile since 2008. He returned to Pakistan in 2013 to contest the general elections, following which the government initiated a trial against him for treason. Watch WION's two-part interview with former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf. (WION)

Pakistan: Musharraf looks to contend next year's elections

Pakistan&#39;s former president General Pervez Musharraf has said his administration &#39;managed freedom fighters&#39; in Kashmir, but later realised a political process was needed to negotiate the issue with India, a Pakistan media report said.

Musharraf, who served as Pakistan&#39;s president from 2001 to 2008 after he dismissed the elected government of Nawaz Sharif in a coup in 1999, said his government was able to force India to discuss issues that New Delhi was unwilling to negotiate.

&quot;In my tenure as a military chief and president of the country, we were succeeding. We were able to bring India to the negotiating table and to sort out issues that India was not ready to discuss,&quot; he told Dunya News in an interview.

&quot;This all started after I stepped down, we had carved out an effective strategy vis-a-vis Kashmir, we were near resolving Kashmir issue with India on a four-point agenda, our policies were successful; America and China were aligning with us.&quot;

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In an interview to Pakistan&#39;s TV channel Duniya TV, the former dictator, Musharraf said that as president he continued with Pakistan&#39;s policy of controlling terror in India to force it on the negotiating table. (WION)
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On the 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed&#39;s &quot;house arrest&quot;, Musharraf said the &quot;Jamaat-ud-Dawa(JuD) chief is not a terrorist&quot;. He claimed India is after Saeed because his supporters go voluntarily to Kashmir to fight the Indian Army.&nbsp;

Musharraf left Pakistan for Dubai in March last year&nbsp;after his name was removed from the Exit Control List. The seventy-three-year-old said Afghanistan&#39;s intelligence agency, the National Directorate of Security, was playing into India&#39;s hands and was being used as a tool to facilitate terror groups in Pakistan.

He claimed operation &#39;Zarb-e-Azb&#39; - during which the Pakistan Army claimed it killed thousands of militants - had no shortcomings as it was specifically for North Waziristan. &quot;This operation cleaned up all the camps and launching pads of terrorist, who were supported by the Indian spy agency with the collaboration of NDS, to destabilise the tribal areas.&quot;

Musharraf said a holistic approach and planning was crucial at the moment to curb terrorism in the country. His possible reference was to a series of deadly terrorist attack in Pakistan this year, particularly the suicide bombing at a famed Sufi shrine in Sindh in which at least 88 people died.

The former military chief questioned the steps being taken by Pakistan to eliminate the &quot;sleeper cells&quot; active in the country, including the previously peaceful Punjab province.

&quot;What steps are being taken to eliminate these sleeper cells? Punjab has become the stronghold of militancy,&quot; he said, refuting a question that terrorist attacks and terror outfits like the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi existed during his tenure.

Musharraf is widely believed to be the mastermind behind the Kargil conflict in 1999 between India and Pakistan which resulted in a near all-out war in the high-altitude Siachen region. The conflict disrupted relations between India and Pakistan which came just months after the historic Vajpayee government&#39;s Delhi-Lahore bus journey to Pakistan. Musharraf who was president for nearly seven years&nbsp;stepped down after threat of impeachment by the Pakistani legislators in August 2008.&nbsp;

(WION with PTI inputs)

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Incursion in India's Kargil sector in 1999 took place under Musharraf's watch, leading to a near all-out war between the two countries

Pakistan's former president General Pervez Musharraf has said his administration 'managed freedom fighters' in Kashmir, but later realised a political process was needed to negotiate the issue with India, a Pakistan media report said. Musharraf, who served as Pakistan's president from 2001 to 2008 after he dismissed the elected government of Nawaz Sharif in a coup in 1999, said his government was able to force India to discuss issues that New Delhi was unwilling to negotiate. "In my tenure as a military chief and president of the country, we were succeeding. We were able to bring India to the negotiating table and to sort out issues that India was not ready to discuss," he told Dunya News in an interview. "This all started after I stepped down, we had carved out an effective strategy vis-a-vis Kashmir, we were near resolving Kashmir issue with India on a four-point agenda, our policies were successful; America and China were aligning with us." In an interview to Pakistan's TV channel Duniya TV, the former dictator, Musharraf said that as president he continued with Pakistan's policy of controlling terror in India to force it on the negotiating table. (WION) × On the 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's "house arrest", Musharraf said the "Jamaat-ud-Dawa(JuD) chief is not a terrorist". He claimed India is after Saeed because his supporters go voluntarily to Kashmir to fight the Indian Army. Musharraf left Pakistan for Dubai in March last year after his name was removed from the Exit Control List. The seventy-three-year-old said Afghanistan's intelligence agency, the National Directorate of Security, was playing into India's hands and was being used as a tool to facilitate terror groups in Pakistan. He claimed operation 'Zarb-e-Azb' - during which the Pakistan Army claimed it killed thousands of militants - had no shortcomings as it was specifically for North Waziristan. "This operation cleaned up all the camps and launching pads of terrorist, who were supported by the Indian spy agency with the collaboration of NDS, to destabilise the tribal areas." Musharraf said a holistic approach and planning was crucial at the moment to curb terrorism in the country. His possible reference was to a series of deadly terrorist attack in Pakistan this year, particularly the suicide bombing at a famed Sufi shrine in Sindh in which at least 88 people died. The former military chief questioned the steps being taken by Pakistan to eliminate the "sleeper cells" active in the country, including the previously peaceful Punjab province. "What steps are being taken to eliminate these sleeper cells? Punjab has become the stronghold of militancy," he said, refuting a question that terrorist attacks and terror outfits like the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi existed during his tenure. Musharraf is widely believed to be the mastermind behind the Kargil conflict in 1999 between India and Pakistan which resulted in a near all-out war in the high-altitude Siachen region. The conflict disrupted relations between India and Pakistan which came just months after the historic Vajpayee government's Delhi-Lahore bus journey to Pakistan. Musharraf who was president for nearly seven years stepped down after threat of impeachment by the Pakistani legislators in August 2008. (WION with PTI inputs)

Pakistan's ex-president Pervez Musharraf admits to meddling in Kashmir, says he 'managed freedom fighters'

Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf has said that former army chief General Raheel Sharif helped him leave the country by keeping the government from pressuring the courts, Pakistani daily the Dawn reported.

Speaking during a talk show on Dunya News on Monday night, the Dawn quoted Musharraf as saying, &quot;Well, he (Raheel Sharif) did help me. I have been his boss and I have been the Army Chief before him. He helped out because the cases are politicised, they put me on the Exit Control List (ECL), they turned it into a political issue.&quot;

When asked to explain how Sharif helped him, Musharraf said Sharif played a role in &quot;releasing the pressure&quot; on courts to prevent him from leaving the country.

Musharraf added, &quot;Behind the scenes, the army chief had a role to release that pressure by dealing with the government.&quot;

&quot;Once he (Sharif) got the government to relieve the pressure that they were exerting, the courts gave their judgement and allowed me to go abroad for treatment.&quot;

General Raheel Sharif was succeeded by Qamar Javed Bajwa as Pakistan&rsquo;s army chief this November.

Musharraf was able to leave for Dubai in March this year.

The interior ministry issued a notification to remove his name from the exit control list (ECL), following the Pakistani Supreme Court&#39;s order to lift the ban on his foreign travel.

Musharraf is facing treason charges in Pakistan for unlawfully suspending the constitution and instituting emergency rule in November 2007, arresting judges and limiting their powers.

But, Musharraf insists he acted within the constitution when he declared a state of emergency in the country and that he did not act alone when taking that decision, the BBC reported.&nbsp;

Apart from that, he is also being tried in the murders of Benazir Bhutto, Nawab Akbar Bugti and Ghazi Abdul Rasheed.

(WION)

'I have been his boss and I have been the Army chief before him. He helped out because the cases are politicised,' said Musharraf

Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf has said that former army chief General Raheel Sharif helped him leave the country by keeping the government from pressuring the courts, Pakistani daily the Dawn reported. Speaking during a talk show on Dunya News on Monday night, the Dawn quoted Musharraf as saying, "Well, he (Raheel Sharif) did help me. I have been his boss and I have been the Army Chief before him. He helped out because the cases are politicised, they put me on the Exit Control List (ECL), they turned it into a political issue." When asked to explain how Sharif helped him, Musharraf said Sharif played a role in "releasing the pressure" on courts to prevent him from leaving the country. Musharraf added, "Behind the scenes, the army chief had a role to release that pressure by dealing with the government." "Once he (Sharif) got the government to relieve the pressure that they were exerting, the courts gave their judgement and allowed me to go abroad for treatment." General Raheel Sharif was succeeded by Qamar Javed Bajwa as Pakistan’s army chief this November. Musharraf was able to leave for Dubai in March this year. The interior ministry issued a notification to remove his name from the exit control list (ECL), following the Pakistani Supreme Court's order to lift the ban on his foreign travel. Musharraf is facing treason charges in Pakistan for unlawfully suspending the constitution and instituting emergency rule in November 2007, arresting judges and limiting their powers. But, Musharraf insists he acted within the constitution when he declared a state of emergency in the country and that he did not act alone when taking that decision, the BBC reported. Apart from that, he is also being tried in the murders of Benazir Bhutto, Nawab Akbar Bugti and Ghazi Abdul Rasheed. (WION)

Ex-Army chief Raheel Sharif helped me get out of Pakistan: Pervez Musharraf

At least 27 civilians were killed as the Syrian regime pounded the rebel-held side of eastern Aleppo with airstrikes, barrell bombs and artillery fire, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.&nbsp;

The deaths brought the civilian toll in the last five days of regime bombardment to at least 92, AFP reported.

Schools in east Aleppo announced in a statement they would close on Saturday and Sunday &quot;for the safety of students and teachers, after the barbarous aerial strikes&quot;.

&quot;People went to sleep to the sound of bombardment and awoke to the sound of bombardment,&quot; Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP. &quot;There&#39;s barely a neighbourhood that has been spared in the east.&quot;

The renewed bombardment, which comes after weeks of ceasefire, has also damaged multiple hospitals and damaged rescue facilities.

On Friday, regime shelling of the Maadi neighbourhood partially destroyed one of the last hospitals in east Aleppo, forcing it to close. The last pediatric hospital in the east was also forced to close after being damaged in a barrel bomb attack earlier in the week.

Aleppo has been divided since mid-2012 between rebel control in the east and government control in the west. The rebels have been besieged by Russian-backed regime forces since the last four months.&nbsp;

UN, White House condemn bombings

The UN said it was &quot;appalled&quot; by escalating violence in Syria, and urged immediate access to Aleppo.&nbsp;

US National Security Advisor Susan Rice condemned &quot;heinous&quot; bombings of hospitals.

&quot;The United States condemns in the strongest terms these horrific attacks against medical infrastructure and humanitarian aid workers. There is no excuse for these heinous actions,&quot; Rice said in a statement.

&quot;The Syrian regime and its allies, Russia in particular, bears responsibly for the immediate and long term consequences these actions have caused in Syria and beyond.&quot;

(WION with inputs from AFP)

Nawab Akbar Bugti had led an armed campaign to press for provincial autonomy of Balochistan

At least 27 civilians were killed as the Syrian regime pounded the rebel-held side of eastern Aleppo with airstrikes, barrell bombs and artillery fire, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The deaths brought the civilian toll in the last five days of regime bombardment to at least 92, AFP reported. Schools in east Aleppo announced in a statement they would close on Saturday and Sunday "for the safety of students and teachers, after the barbarous aerial strikes". "People went to sleep to the sound of bombardment and awoke to the sound of bombardment," Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP. "There's barely a neighbourhood that has been spared in the east." The renewed bombardment, which comes after weeks of ceasefire, has also damaged multiple hospitals and damaged rescue facilities. On Friday, regime shelling of the Maadi neighbourhood partially destroyed one of the last hospitals in east Aleppo, forcing it to close. The last pediatric hospital in the east was also forced to close after being damaged in a barrel bomb attack earlier in the week. Aleppo has been divided since mid-2012 between rebel control in the east and government control in the west. The rebels have been besieged by Russian-backed regime forces since the last four months. UN, White House condemn bombings The UN said it was "appalled" by escalating violence in Syria, and urged immediate access to Aleppo. US National Security Advisor Susan Rice condemned "heinous" bombings of hospitals. "The United States condemns in the strongest terms these horrific attacks against medical infrastructure and humanitarian aid workers. There is no excuse for these heinous actions," Rice said in a statement. "The Syrian regime and its allies, Russia in particular, bears responsibly for the immediate and long term consequences these actions have caused in Syria and beyond." (WION with inputs from AFP)

Arrest warrant against Musharraf in Baloch leader Bugti murder case

Vowing to united all political forces to challenge Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Asif Ali Zardari- Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led Pakistan People&#39;Party (PPP), former Pakistan military dictator General (Retired) Pervez Musharraf said he would form a third political power in the country.

Musharraf told the Pakistani publication, the Dawn, that he would come back to Pakistan when the court cases against him will conclude. Musharraf said the &quot;political leadership in Pakistan is prolonging the cases against me and the judiciary is under the influence of the current government.&quot;

However, Pakistan senate chairman Raza Rabbani opposed Musharraf&#39;s entry in politics, saying &quot;it will be shameful for the country if the person who destroyed the nation enters into politics.&quot;

Mysterious banners popped up in Pakistan suggesting an alliance between Musharraf and the Farooq Sattar-led MQM-Pakistan. The former army chief told media that he does hold sympathy for the &#39;Mohajir&#39; community but had no interest in joining hands with the party.&nbsp;

The party has also rejected reports that Musharraf&#39;s counsel had suggested an alliance and the inclusion of the former military dictator as a party leader.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from ANI) 
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Stressing the need for a third political power in Pakistan, Musharraf said he will return to challenge the PM when his cases conclude

Vowing to united all political forces to challenge Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Asif Ali Zardari- Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led Pakistan People'Party (PPP), former Pakistan military dictator General (Retired) Pervez Musharraf said he would form a third political power in the country. Musharraf told the Pakistani publication, the Dawn, that he would come back to Pakistan when the court cases against him will conclude. Musharraf said the "political leadership in Pakistan is prolonging the cases against me and the judiciary is under the influence of the current government." However, Pakistan senate chairman Raza Rabbani opposed Musharraf's entry in politics, saying "it will be shameful for the country if the person who destroyed the nation enters into politics." Mysterious banners popped up in Pakistan suggesting an alliance between Musharraf and the Farooq Sattar-led MQM-Pakistan. The former army chief told media that he does hold sympathy for the 'Mohajir' community but had no interest in joining hands with the party. The party has also rejected reports that Musharraf's counsel had suggested an alliance and the inclusion of the former military dictator as a party leader. (WION with inputs from ANI)

Former Pakistani army chief Musharraf says 'ready to challenge PM Sharif, Zardari'

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan yesterday accused Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of pursuing his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi&rsquo;s interests in the country after the government cracked the&nbsp;whip on his supporters, news agency Press Trust of India reported.&nbsp;

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At least 100 supporters of Khan&#39;s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were arrested on Sunday.&nbsp;

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&quot;About 450 people entered Islamabad today,&quot; Pakistan&#39;s interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was quoted as saying by Iran&#39;s television network, Press TV Iran.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;Police intercepted them but most of them ran away, many leaving their cars behind. Police arrested more than 100 of them,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

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According to media reports, police resorted to&nbsp;force and used tear-gas and baton to stop the PTI activists from reaching Bani Gala residence of Khan in Pak&#39;s capital, Islamabad. However, no PTI worker suffered serious injuries.

&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the PTI chief lashed out at the government saying: &ldquo;When Nawaz Sharif went to London for whatever kind of surgery, he on the hospital bed first telephoned Modi instead of his mother or children.&rdquo;&nbsp;

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Addressing a press conference outside his Bani Gala residence here, he was referring to Sharif&rsquo;s open heart surgery at a London hospital in May, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

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A day after Pakistan information minister Pervaiz Rashid was sacked over the recent &ldquo;leaked&rdquo; media report about a rift between the civilian and military leaderships on support to militancy, Khan took a jibe at the Nawaz Sharif government.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&ldquo;Nawaz is following Modi&rsquo;s &lsquo;interests&rsquo; in Pakistan. Nawaz is behind the security leaks story which defamed the armed forces. Actually, his and Modi&rsquo;s agenda is same,&rdquo; Khan was quoted as saying.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

He claimed that &quot;everybody knows&quot; that the sacked minister cannot leak sensitive information to the media on his own.

&nbsp;

&ldquo;Rashid is a darbari (courtier) and he did what Nawaz told him to do so.&quot; &nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&ldquo;The whole state machinery is being used to save a corrupt Prime Minister. I will not accept a &lsquo;suspect&rsquo; as Prime Minister of Pakistan. As long as I am alive I will not go after Nawaz Sharif&rsquo;s corruption,&rdquo; the 64-year-old political leader told the press.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Khan went on to say that there was no difference between Pervez Musharraf&rsquo;s dictatorship and Sharif&rsquo;s democracy. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Islamabad police said they recovered five Kalashnikov rifles, a pistol, six magazines, a bulletproof vest, alcohol and three tear gas shells from PTI leader Amin Gandapur&rsquo;s car outside Bani Gala.

&nbsp;

&#39;Mass protests no danger to democracy&#39; &nbsp;

&nbsp;

A lockdown has been announced by&nbsp;Khan&#39;s PTI&nbsp;in a bid to create pressure on Sharif to resign over Panama Papers&#39; revelations about his family&#39;s offshore wealth.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

While talking to international news agency Reuters, Khan&nbsp;dismissed accusations that the November 2 shutdown in Islamabad can lead to a military coup.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;How can a democrat want the military to come in?,&quot; Khan&nbsp;was quoted as saying by Reuters as he dismissed allegations that he wanted the&nbsp;army to topple Sharif.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;He has to answer. He can&#39;t hide behind `democracy in danger`.&quot;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Khan&nbsp;has pledged to bring a million people out on roads to &quot;protest against corruption&quot;.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

However, the Pakistan government has accused Khan of endangering democracy by attempting to draw Pakistan`s powerful military into a political dispute, Reuters reported.

&nbsp;

In a bid to foil the protests, the government has already blocked provincial roads to the capital and arrested around 1,000 Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf workers so far.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from Reuters, PTI)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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The opposition leader also accused Pakistan Prime Minister of leaking sensitive information which defamed the armed forces

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan yesterday accused Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of pursuing his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi’s interests in the country after the government cracked the whip on his supporters, news agency Press Trust of India reported. At least 100 supporters of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were arrested on Sunday. "About 450 people entered Islamabad today," Pakistan's interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was quoted as saying by Iran's television network, Press TV Iran. "Police intercepted them but most of them ran away, many leaving their cars behind. Police arrested more than 100 of them," he added. According to media reports, police resorted to force and used tear-gas and baton to stop the PTI activists from reaching Bani Gala residence of Khan in Pak's capital, Islamabad. However, no PTI worker suffered serious injuries. Meanwhile, the PTI chief lashed out at the government saying: “When Nawaz Sharif went to London for whatever kind of surgery, he on the hospital bed first telephoned Modi instead of his mother or children.” Addressing a press conference outside his Bani Gala residence here, he was referring to Sharif’s open heart surgery at a London hospital in May, news agency PTI reported. A day after Pakistan information minister Pervaiz Rashid was sacked over the recent “leaked” media report about a rift between the civilian and military leaderships on support to militancy, Khan took a jibe at the Nawaz Sharif government. “Nawaz is following Modi’s ‘interests’ in Pakistan. Nawaz is behind the security leaks story which defamed the armed forces. Actually, his and Modi’s agenda is same,” Khan was quoted as saying. He claimed that "everybody knows" that the sacked minister cannot leak sensitive information to the media on his own. “Rashid is a darbari (courtier) and he did what Nawaz told him to do so." “The whole state machinery is being used to save a corrupt Prime Minister. I will not accept a ‘suspect’ as Prime Minister of Pakistan. As long as I am alive I will not go after Nawaz Sharif’s corruption,” the 64-year-old political leader told the press. Khan went on to say that there was no difference between Pervez Musharraf’s dictatorship and Sharif’s democracy. Meanwhile, Islamabad police said they recovered five Kalashnikov rifles, a pistol, six magazines, a bulletproof vest, alcohol and three tear gas shells from PTI leader Amin Gandapur’s car outside Bani Gala. 'Mass protests no danger to democracy' A lockdown has been announced by Khan's PTI in a bid to create pressure on Sharif to resign over Panama Papers' revelations about his family's offshore wealth. While talking to international news agency Reuters, Khan dismissed accusations that the November 2 shutdown in Islamabad can lead to a military coup. "How can a democrat want the military to come in?," Khan was quoted as saying by Reuters as he dismissed allegations that he wanted the army to topple Sharif. "He has to answer. He can't hide behind `democracy in danger`." Khan has pledged to bring a million people out on roads to "protest against corruption". However, the Pakistan government has accused Khan of endangering democracy by attempting to draw Pakistan`s powerful military into a political dispute, Reuters reported. In a bid to foil the protests, the government has already blocked provincial roads to the capital and arrested around 1,000 Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf workers so far. (WION with inputs from Reuters, PTI)

Sharif pursuing Modi's interests in Pakistan: Imran Khan

Former Pakistan president General Pervez Musharraf has described Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a &quot;terrorist&quot;, saying he has been involved in bomb blasts even in his country. He, however, he did not give a clear reply as to why Pakistan has not been asking China to get Azhar declared as an international terrorist by the United Nations.

&quot;Why should China be involved when it has nothing to do with him (Azhar),&quot; Musharraf told News Nation, according to a release issued by the TV channel.

A proposal is pending before the UN Security Council for declaring Azhar as an international terrorist, but China has been blocking it, claiming that there is not enough evidence to prove that he is a terrorist. When asked about the espionage case busted on Thursday in Delhi involving an employee of the Pakistan High Commission, the former Pakistan Army Chief initially parried the issue saying, &quot;I am not aware of it&quot;. But then he added that &quot;if at all it has happened, (it) shouldn&#39;t be encouraged&quot;, the release said. It also quoted Musharraf as saying that the Nawaz Sharif government lacks aggression.

The channel said Musharraf accepted Pakistan government&#39;s diplomatic failure on international front. He, however, said it does not mean that Pakistan should be taken for granted.

To a question on whether a political leadership or Army is better suited for Pakistan s development, Musharraf said the country had witnessed growth when Army was in power. When asked about terror camps in PoK, he feigned ignorance saying &quot;I don&#39;t know&quot;. However, with a smile, he said, &quot;I will let you know only once I get the count of these camps which you are talking about&quot;.

On Pakistan&#39;s diminishing relations with United States, he said there are certain contentious issues which are being addressed by Pakistan Army. When referred to the &#39;surgical strike&#39; and military might of India, he said, Pakistan is a nuclear power with a strong army which can&#39;t be bullied.

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s sudden visit to Pakistan and his meeting with Sharif, he said shaking hands is just an artificial move, but for a formal solution, something concrete needs to be done.

(PTI)

The former Pakistan president said Azhar has been involved in bomb blasts even in Pakistan

Former Pakistan president General Pervez Musharraf has described Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a "terrorist", saying he has been involved in bomb blasts even in his country. He, however, he did not give a clear reply as to why Pakistan has not been asking China to get Azhar declared as an international terrorist by the United Nations. "Why should China be involved when it has nothing to do with him (Azhar)," Musharraf told News Nation, according to a release issued by the TV channel. A proposal is pending before the UN Security Council for declaring Azhar as an international terrorist, but China has been blocking it, claiming that there is not enough evidence to prove that he is a terrorist. When asked about the espionage case busted on Thursday in Delhi involving an employee of the Pakistan High Commission, the former Pakistan Army Chief initially parried the issue saying, "I am not aware of it". But then he added that "if at all it has happened, (it) shouldn't be encouraged", the release said. It also quoted Musharraf as saying that the Nawaz Sharif government lacks aggression. The channel said Musharraf accepted Pakistan government's diplomatic failure on international front. He, however, said it does not mean that Pakistan should be taken for granted. To a question on whether a political leadership or Army is better suited for Pakistan s development, Musharraf said the country had witnessed growth when Army was in power. When asked about terror camps in PoK, he feigned ignorance saying "I don't know". However, with a smile, he said, "I will let you know only once I get the count of these camps which you are talking about". On Pakistan's diminishing relations with United States, he said there are certain contentious issues which are being addressed by Pakistan Army. When referred to the 'surgical strike' and military might of India, he said, Pakistan is a nuclear power with a strong army which can't be bullied. On Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sudden visit to Pakistan and his meeting with Sharif, he said shaking hands is just an artificial move, but for a formal solution, something concrete needs to be done. (PTI)

JeM chief Masood Azhar is a 'terrorist': Pervez Musharraf

A Pakistani court on Saturday ordered the confiscation of Pakistan&#39;s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf&#39;s property.&nbsp; 
 
Islamabad district court judge Pervaiz Qadir Memon passed the order in a case pertaining to the deadly raid on Islamabad&#39;s Red Mosque.&nbsp; 
 
Pakistan&#39;s radical cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi was among the more than 100 people that were killed when troops stormed the Red Mosque in 2007. 
 
&quot;Our next move will be to put pressure on the interior ministry to bring Musharraf back home so he can face all cases against him,&quot; a lawyer for the Red Mosque, Tariq Asad said. 
 
The court had also issued several arrest warrants against the former President.&nbsp; 
 
Musharraf is facing a string of court cases, including charges of treason. A special court in July had issued a similar order against Musharraf.&nbsp; 
 
In January this year Musharraf was acquitted over the 2006 killing of a Baloch rebel leader, Nawab Akbar Bugti. 
 
He had resigned in 2008 to avoid possible impeachment and went into exile overseas.&nbsp; 
 
A travel ban was imposed on him when he returned to Pakistan in 2013 in an attempt to contest elections.&nbsp; 
 
Former President Musharraf went to Dubai in March, after the ban was lifted, for what was described as urgent medical treatment. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
 
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The order was passed in a case relating to the deadly 2007 raid on Islamabad's Red Mosque in which more than 100 people were killed

A Pakistani court on Saturday ordered the confiscation of Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf's property. Islamabad district court judge Pervaiz Qadir Memon passed the order in a case pertaining to the deadly raid on Islamabad's Red Mosque. Pakistan's radical cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi was among the more than 100 people that were killed when troops stormed the Red Mosque in 2007. "Our next move will be to put pressure on the interior ministry to bring Musharraf back home so he can face all cases against him," a lawyer for the Red Mosque, Tariq Asad said. The court had also issued several arrest warrants against the former President. Musharraf is facing a string of court cases, including charges of treason. A special court in July had issued a similar order against Musharraf. In January this year Musharraf was acquitted over the 2006 killing of a Baloch rebel leader, Nawab Akbar Bugti. He had resigned in 2008 to avoid possible impeachment and went into exile overseas. A travel ban was imposed on him when he returned to Pakistan in 2013 in an attempt to contest elections. Former President Musharraf went to Dubai in March, after the ban was lifted, for what was described as urgent medical treatment. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Pak court orders confiscation of Musharraf's property

A special court hearing treason charges against former Pakistani president and army chief Pervez Musharraf ordered the seizure of his assets today after he failed to appear for a hearing in the capital Islamabad, media reported. 
 
Musharraf in March left Pakistan for Dubai to seek medical treatment, shortly after the country&#39;s top court lifted a ban on his travel. 
 
He is facing trial on treason and other charges related to his seizure of power as army chief in 1999 in a coup, the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007 and the killing of a prominent cleric in a military operation in Islamabad. 
 
A three-member bench of the special court hearing the cases passed orders to freeze his bank accounts and confiscate his property after Musharraf failed to appear for a hearing, media reported. There had also been a similar order in 2011 relating to the Bhutto case. 
 
Mazhar Alam Miankhel, chief justice of the Peshawar High Court, is presiding over the special court, which sits in Islamabad. He adjourned today&#39;s proceedings until Musharraf is arrested or surrenders. 
 
&quot;According to law, the accused cannot (go on trial) in absentia,&quot; Miankhel said, according to English daily Dawn newspaper. 
 
Dawn reported Musharraf&#39;s counsel argued the former president was in ill health and could not appear before the court in person. 
 
Musharraf seized power in 1999 in a bloodless coup against then prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who returned to office in a democratic election in 2013. Musharraf stood down as president in 2008 when threatened with impeachment by civilian political leaders. 
 
Musharraf returned to Pakistan in March 2013 after nearly four years of self-imposed exile to contest elections, despite the possibility of arrest and death threats from the Taliban. 
 
Pakistan&#39;s military has ruled the South Asian nation for about half of its 69-year history. It currently sets foreign and security policy even though Sharif&#39;s civilian administration is in power. 
 
(Reuters)

Musharraf failed to appear for a hearing in Islamabad. He is facing trial for treason and other charges for a 1999 military coup

A special court hearing treason charges against former Pakistani president and army chief Pervez Musharraf ordered the seizure of his assets today after he failed to appear for a hearing in the capital Islamabad, media reported. Musharraf in March left Pakistan for Dubai to seek medical treatment, shortly after the country's top court lifted a ban on his travel. He is facing trial on treason and other charges related to his seizure of power as army chief in 1999 in a coup, the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007 and the killing of a prominent cleric in a military operation in Islamabad. A three-member bench of the special court hearing the cases passed orders to freeze his bank accounts and confiscate his property after Musharraf failed to appear for a hearing, media reported. There had also been a similar order in 2011 relating to the Bhutto case. Mazhar Alam Miankhel, chief justice of the Peshawar High Court, is presiding over the special court, which sits in Islamabad. He adjourned today's proceedings until Musharraf is arrested or surrenders. "According to law, the accused cannot (go on trial) in absentia," Miankhel said, according to English daily Dawn newspaper. Dawn reported Musharraf's counsel argued the former president was in ill health and could not appear before the court in person. Musharraf seized power in 1999 in a bloodless coup against then prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who returned to office in a democratic election in 2013. Musharraf stood down as president in 2008 when threatened with impeachment by civilian political leaders. Musharraf returned to Pakistan in March 2013 after nearly four years of self-imposed exile to contest elections, despite the possibility of arrest and death threats from the Taliban. Pakistan's military has ruled the South Asian nation for about half of its 69-year history. It currently sets foreign and security policy even though Sharif's civilian administration is in power. (Reuters)

Pakistan court orders seizure of former president Pervez Musharraf's assets