Rumours of Martial Law abound in Pakistan as Musharraf’s return expected

Refuting rumours about a possible judicial coup or martial law in Pakistan, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbassi on Saturday said the country is actually heading to elections in July to elect the next government.

The remarks came when Pakistan Awami Ittehad (PAI) Secretary General Iqbal Dar told media on Friday that their alliance leader and former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf will return to the country in April.

Musharraf is living in exile in Dubai, after he was declared an absconder by an anti-terrorism court in the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

“There was a need to support the judiciary and armed forces, adding political parties should sign an agreement to decide how the country would be run in the future. If the ruling parties go for confrontation with the judiciary and armed forces, they will not be able to run the country’s affairs smoothly,” he said.

Refuting rumours that Musharraf’s return may incite martial law, Prime Minister Abbassi said the democratic process will continue in Pakistan and there is no possibility of any judicial coup or martial law in Pakistan.

Abbassi said his government has carried out several infrastructure projects. “The present government has carried out historic work in different spheres, including infrastructure development and energy,” he said while inaugurating the first cable and Aluminium Alloy Plant at Sundur Industrial Area in Lahore.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has added 10,000 MW of electricity so far and will meet future energy requirements effectively, he said on the occasion. Once the infrastructure is ready, attracting foreign investments will follow, he said. The current year’s growth rate of Pakistan is expected to be around 5.6 percent and the government will aim at 6 per cent next year, he said.