Musharraf nursing ambition to lead former ruling party PML-Q

Islamabad, Oct 27 : Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf is said to be keen on leading the PML-Q, the political party which he backed during last February elections. He reportedly expressed this desire in front of his personal friends in Lahore last week at a dinner.

Musharraf also told his friends that if the Chaudhrys of Gujarat, who are presently holding the reins of the party, were not ready to quit, "then someone from the ranks of the party should make them leave so that he could take over without much fuss".

Musharraf was reportedly told by his friends that after the failure of the PPP to address the economic problems, the people were recalling the "golden days" of his rule. "Sir, this is the time to seriously think about leading the party," a source quoted a Musharraf crony as telling him.

"But this would only be possible if the Chaudhrys of Gujrat voluntarily hand over the party leadership to him," the sources quoted Musharraf's friends as saying, according to The News.

According to the paper, PML-Q leader Ishaq Khan Khakwani confirmed from Lahore that Musharraf told his personal friends at a party, hosted by an oil sector tycoon, that he was prepared to head the party in case Chaudhry Shaujaat and Pervez Elahi accepted him as their new president or they were forced to quit.

"I cannot share my source, who was present in the same house where this secret political game plan was discussed by Musharraf with his friends," Khakwani said and added that Musharraf had asked his friends not to disclose his intentions.

ANI