London:
In an exclusive interview to NDTV, former Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf has said that running Pakistan is not like running an eleven-man cricket team. Taking a dig at cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, General Musharraf said that one successful public meeting did not mean that he would win the elections expected to be held next year.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan had stunned political opponents with a massive show of strength at a rally in Lahore in October.
General Musharraf, however, said, "Organizing a party is a different issue. Your candidates in each constituency, winning candidates, electable candidates in each constituency. How good are they to muster support?"
He, however, conceded that Imran Khan had showed that the winds were changing in Pakistan and said that the former cricketer could become a political alternative, particularly since he was an honest man.
"He means what he says. Maybe, although at times, one sees some variations in statements but, however, I think he means well. He is a patriotic man. So, since he has not been tested, he is, out of the lot, the best of the lot to be given a chance," said General Musharraf.
"Unless we break this political status quo and create another political alternative, I think Pakistan will continue on this downward trend as we are going," said General Musharraf, who is looking to return to Pakistan early next year.
Stressing that he would like his party, the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), to win on its own, the former Pakistan President said, "If at all there is even a 25% - 30% chance of that not being possible, I would still like to get into a coalition with people who can serve the purposes of Pakistan in the future."
"In breaking the political status quo, in creating a new political dynamic, I see a wind, a changing wind. The winds are changing in Pakistan," he said.
He had launched APML in London, where he currently stays, in October 2010. Apologising to the people of Pakistan for the negative repercussions due to the actions he may have taken while in power, he promised to fight against poverty, illiteracy and backwardness.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan had stunned political opponents with a massive show of strength at a rally in Lahore in October.
General Musharraf, however, said, "Organizing a party is a different issue. Your candidates in each constituency, winning candidates, electable candidates in each constituency. How good are they to muster support?"
He, however, conceded that Imran Khan had showed that the winds were changing in Pakistan and said that the former cricketer could become a political alternative, particularly since he was an honest man.
"He means what he says. Maybe, although at times, one sees some variations in statements but, however, I think he means well. He is a patriotic man. So, since he has not been tested, he is, out of the lot, the best of the lot to be given a chance," said General Musharraf.
"Unless we break this political status quo and create another political alternative, I think Pakistan will continue on this downward trend as we are going," said General Musharraf, who is looking to return to Pakistan early next year.
Stressing that he would like his party, the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), to win on its own, the former Pakistan President said, "If at all there is even a 25% - 30% chance of that not being possible, I would still like to get into a coalition with people who can serve the purposes of Pakistan in the future."
"In breaking the political status quo, in creating a new political dynamic, I see a wind, a changing wind. The winds are changing in Pakistan," he said.
He had launched APML in London, where he currently stays, in October 2010. Apologising to the people of Pakistan for the negative repercussions due to the actions he may have taken while in power, he promised to fight against poverty, illiteracy and backwardness.
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