Musharraf fires fresh salvo against critics; vows not to quit

Rezaul H. Laskar

Islamabad, Jul 5 (PTI) In a fresh salvo against his
detractors, President Pervez Musharraf has said he will not
quit his post or leave the country because he still has a role
to play along with the political parties in steering Pakistan
out of the "present crisis".

Criticising reports that he might attempt to flee the
country or be arrested, Musharraf made it clear that he has no
intention of going abroad.

Maintaining that the army still supports him, he said he
would step down only if he thought such a move would solve the
country's problems.

"Yes, I have been silent for the past three to four months
under a well thought-out plan. But I am not afraid, I'm not
afraid at all. You see, I never learnt what fear is. It was
never taught to me," he told a gathering at a dinner hosted by
the business community in Karachi late on Friday night.

Musharraf also said he had "been trained to respond both
in offensive and defensive manner, especially (while)
defending the national interest".

The President, who has been facing pressure to quit since
his supporters were routed in the February 18 general
election, said: "I have to play my role along with the
political parties to steer the country out of the present
crisis. So I am not leaving the country."

Flaying detractors who claimed the army had turned against
him, he said: "The army will never leave me alone. Those who
said the armed forces are not with me are the worst hypocrites
and rumour-mongers."

Insisting that he had committed "no crime or sin",
Musharraf said he would not "take a single day to resign" if
he believed such a move would benefit Pakistan and solve its
problems.

Musharraf called for dealing with "separatists with force"
and for tackling terrorism, extremism and economic
instability, which were affecting trade and industry and
fomenting political turmoil.

"If we don't stop the flood of Talibanisation, you will
see Lal Masjids all across Pakistan," he said, referring to
the radical mosque in Islamabad where a large number of
militants were holed up before being flushed out in a major
military operation a year ago.

"We have to stop this. We can't let a few people impose
their will and views on the majority," he said, adding that
voters in North West Frontier Province had rejected radical
elements and supported moderates.

He emphasised that a dialogue from a position of strength
would succeed.

Referring to the situation in the restive tribal belt and
adjoining areas, he said a three-pronged strategy involving
use of force, political dialogue and economic reconstruction
is the only way out. The policy, which his government had
initiated, is continuing, he said.

Expressing concern at rising separatist tendencies in
Balochistan, Musharraf said a policy of appeasement towards
such elements will not work. "It must be dealt with force."

The event, which had the theme "Unity for prosperity",
provided Musharraf with a platform to attack the ruling
coalition. The dinner was attended by several top leaders of
the pro-Musharraf Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

Representatives of the business community and
industrialists too called on Musharraf to stand firm against
his opponents.

Musharraf was of the view that the current uncertainty and
instability had led to a flight of capital. Various problems
had also been created because the political leadership had let
the people down in tackling the real issues, he claimed.

Political stability could still be achieved through
politics of reconciliation and by forgetting the past and
looking forward, he remarked.

"I'll be very happy if the present coalition completes its
five-year tenure and resolves the main issues by moving
forward and frees itself of the politics of vendetta and rises
above blame game," he said.

"Political stability could be achieved through
reconciliation and by looking forward rather than being
nostalgic," he said.