General Musharraf Hints At Joining ‘Active Politics’

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Musharraf immediately replied he was "considering." Then he hastened to add the "doors are open." "I can consider it (politics). But I have to take a decision."

Earlier, addressing the participants of the NAB conference, Musharraf urged the Western countries to give back plundered billions of dollars, deposited in their banks by the corrupt people from the developing countries.

The president called for international legislation to help return the looted money of developing countries. "We must stop this loot and money laundering in Western banks through legislation and UN resolutions.

This is the biggest breakthrough that the developed world can give to the developing countries," Musharraf said, adding, no one should be allowed to take billions of dollars away. This is the biggest source of corruption, he said.

The president said the corruption by the poor should be condoned while these practices by the rich were extremely intolerable. Appreciating the NAB role for minimising corruption, the president said, "I am glad with the performance of the National Accountability Bureau." He said the NAB deserved credit for bringing about a culture of accountability of the rich and the powerful, that would certainly help reduce corruption in the near future.

The president rejected the criticism against the NAB and said the bureau is not enemy of any particular political party or individual. Musharraf said it was incorrect to indict the NAB for political targeting. "It has been proved the NAB is not targeting any individual or group for political purposes."

He said the NAB is trying to create a new culture of accountability by hitting at the roots of corruption. He also rejected the criticism against the NAB that the military and judiciary do not fall in the net of accountability, saying there is a strong system of check and balance in the military and the judiciary while the retired personnel can be proceeded by the bureau. However, he said a "corruption-free society is a mirage - almost impossible".

Musharraf said the NAB has done a commendable job and we must take pride in it. He said the government inherited a bankrupt economy and was, therefore, trying to invite investment and prevent capital flight.

Musharraf said the NAB is moving in the right direction and there is a need to keep up the momentum. The president said that "ten per cent people in the government departments are incorruptible while another ten per cent are incorrigible". He said there is a need to focus on the rest of the eighty per cent people who keep waiting for an opportunity.

He said the government has twice increased the salaries of government employees and pointed out that the last enhancement cost the government some Rs 14 billion. He announced that another increase in the salaries of government employees would be made in the next fiscal year. He said the salaries of government employees would be coordinated with their powers.

Musharraf said following the seven point anti-corruption agenda, various steps were taken by his government for good governance and transparency. He referred to the promulgation of Removal of Service Ordinance and the act of giving autonomy to the Public Service Commission to avert nepotism. He proudly said the inductions in police department are also merit-oriented now.

He also referred to the establishment of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and Pak Telecom Authority (PTA) and said the government will soon appoint a regulatory authority for the Pakistan Railways.

He also mentioned devolution of power plan, which hits at the roots of corruption and said devolution process in itself is an anti-corruption drive. He said corruption has been rooted out from the highest level and pointed out that Pakistan, which was second among the most corrupt countries, now stands at 92 among 133 countries.

In response to a question, Musharraf said, "To me Pakistan comes first. I take every decision in national interest". Commenting on Benazir Bhutto’s assertion that general elections were not held fairly, he said, "The elections were very fair".

Musharraf said the government will respect the court’s decision on Shahbaz Sharif’s return to the country. He was in a very pleasant mood. He responded to various questions with smiles only.

When asked by a journalist that the current situation in the country is heading for new general elections, he said smilingly, "what do you (journalists) want". To a question on US ambassador to Afghanistan, Khalilzad’s statement against Pakistan, he said the Foreign Office has already given a reply and his reaction is the same.