Musharraf resigns as APML chairman

Pakistan’s former president Pervez Musharraf has resigned as the chairman of his political party, All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) yesterday, ending all hopes to reemerge as a politician.

The former military ruler sent his resignation to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as it was no longer possible for the former president to run the party from abroad, APML president Dr Mohammad Amjad told media yesterday.

Dr Mohammad Amjad, previously the general secretary of the party, has been named as the new chairman of APML. He will now be running the party affairs and deciding APML’s role in the upcoming general elections

The news of Mushraraf’s resignation comes days after the Supreme Court withdrew the temporary relief it permitted to Musharraf, allowing him to submit his nomination papers, after Musharraf failed to appear before the court.

Despite interim relief and assurances from the chief justice, Musharraf failed to return to Pakistan resulting in the cancellation of his conditional nomination.

Confirmation sought

Before withdrawing the interim order, the CJP confirmed from Musharraf’s counsel if his client would appear before court to which he replied that he (Musharraf) would not be able to appear.

APML leader Dr Amjad told media that Musharraf had presented his resignation to the party on June 18 due to the Peshawar High Court’s 2013 verdict which had disqualified him for life from politics.

Although Musharraf’s representatives had submitted his nomination papers for Chitral’s NA-1 seat, the former president failed to return to Pakistan after which the top court withdrew its directive allowing nomination papers to be filed.

Musharraf explained in a video chat that he had postponed his return as the court order compelled him to change his mind.