Musharraf to 'formally' announce launch of his new party in July

Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf is planning to formally announce the launch of his party, the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), by the end of next month from London where he is currently living on an 'unannounced exile.' According to sources close to Musharraf, the former general believes that there is a possibility of 'snap polls' in Pakistan this year, through which he plans to reenter the country's political by-lanes. Insiders also revealed that Musharraf is also planning to meet 'like-minded' leaders from both the PML-Q and the PML-F in Abu Dhabi and London in the coming few days. "Musharraf is expected to visit Abu Dhabi in the third week of the July to meet his loyalists. During his stay he plans to invite PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain for a meeting," The Nation quoted sources, as saying. Earlier this week, the APML had launched an 'official' recruitment drive in Karachi to garner public support. Rashid Qureshi, one of Musharraf's closest aides and his spokesperson, had told reporters that the newly floated party had received a great response from the people of Pakistan. Responding to a question regarding Musharraf's comeback, Qureshi said: "He (Musharraf) would return soon and would fix the date for his return himself." Several cases are pending against Musharraf in courts across Pakistan, and the UN enquiry commission's report also held his regime responsible for the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in December 2007, but Qureshi denied all charges, saying the former general would return to Pakistan only to serve the people of the country.