Musharraf admits mistakes, launches new party
By IANSFriday, October 1, 2010
LONDON - Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf Friday admitted that mistakes were committed during his regime, even as he formally announced the launch of his new political party.
“These mistakes caused damage to the nation,” Musharraf said while addressing a programme held in London to launch his party - All Pakistan Muslim League (APML).
The party will wage a jihad against poverty and illiteracy, Musharraf said, inviting all Pakistanis to come forward and join hands with the APML, Geo TV reported.
The party manifesto will be governed by three documents - the Quran, the constituent assembly address delivered Aug 11, 1947 by Mohammed Ali Jinnah and the April 12, 1949 Objective Resolution by Liaquat Ali Khan, the country’s first prime minister.
Musharraf said nepotism and corruption were the biggest curse for any society and vowed to rid Pakistan of these.
“Internal and external threats will be dealt with strongly and the fight against terrorism will continue till the elimination of this scourge,” the former president said.
“I believe in the freedom of media and will support it thoroughly. Only those are afraid of media who have got dirty laundry to hide,” he said.
“I want to begin my political career with a clean slate,” Musharraf said.
