New Delhi: Former Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf announced his social media comeback Monday. In a tweet, Musharraf shared links for his Twitter and Facebook accounts. Pakistanis appeared sharply divided after the announcement. While some said he will be hanged if he comes back to the country, others saw hope in his return—of the former dictator improving the state of affairs in Pakistan.
— Pervez Musharraf (@P_Musharraf) January 10, 2022
Musharraf is back on Twitter after a five-month hiatus and his last tweet, before yesterday, was posted on Pakistan’s Independence Day, 14 August 2021.
Yasir Sheikh, Bureau Chief, ARY News Multan/South Punjab, said: ‘Insha’Allah, you will soon return to your homeland and fight the serious treason case against you with courage and bravery and raise the banner of supremacy of law.’
انشاء اللّٰہ جلد ہی آپ وطن واپس تشریف لا کر اپنے اوپر سنگین غداری کیس کا ہمت و جواں مردی سے مقابلہ فرمائیں گے اور قانون کی بالادستی کا پرچم سربلند فرمائیں گے 🙏
— Yasir Sheikh (@yasirmsheikh) January 10, 2022
But some Pakistanis also called the former army chief, who had carried out a coup against his Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the real traitor of Pakistan.
غدار بھگوڑے وطن فروش پاکستان کے سوداگر ۔۔۔۔۔
— Aenna (@ain_omi) January 10, 2022
There were also those who asked the General about his absence. Journalist and Columnist Yusuf Jameel said: ‘Last time you tweeted was on August 14, 2021. Such a long gap?’
Some even reminded Musharraf of his ‘mistakes’. A user wrote: ‘You were repeatedly asked not to take off your uniform and to oust General Kayani Rashi but you did your job. You should have hanged Nawaz Sharif but you did not do that. And Asif Zardari should not have given NRO but it did not happen. Today the country is ruined.’
آ پ کو متعدد بار درخواست کی تھی کہ وردی مت اتاریں اور جنرل کیانی راشی کو معزول کر دیں مگر آ پ نے اپنی کی۔اپ کو نواز شریف کو پھانسی دینی چاہیے تھی مگر آ پ نے یہ کام بھی نہ کیا۔اپ کو ان نواز اور آصف زرداری کو این۔ار ۔او نھیں دینا چاہیے تھا مگر ایسا نہیں ہوا آ ج ملک تباہ ھو چکا۔
— Biloo Bhai (@Munawar37985309) January 10, 2022
‘We miss you so much. If you had lived for ten more years, at least these looters would not have had any more misfortunes on the country and today the country would be in a better condition,’ said another user.
سر آپ کیسے ہیں۔ ہم آپ کو بہت مس کر رہے ہیں۔ کاش آپ دس سال اور رہتے تو ملک پر کم از کم ان لٹیروں کی نحوست مزید نہ پڑتی اور آج ملک بہتر حالت میں ہوتا۔ اللہ آپ کو صحت عطا فرمائے۔ امید ہے آپ کا جواب ملے گا۔
— Riaz Abbasi (@RiazAd07) January 10, 2022
Living legend and greatest hero of all time. PAKISTANI peoples recognize and salute always a hero after his grace but in a heavy hearted.
— aqeel ahmad (@aqeelahmad00649) January 10, 2022
Musharraf and India
Indians also have many reasons to remember the former Pakistani dictator—be it the 1999 coup and the subsequent Kargil War that estranged relations between the neighbours, or his famous visit to India in 2001 that involved meetings with then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee under the Agra Summit.
His praise for former Indian cricket captain M.S. Dhoni’s hairstyle during the team’s tour to Pakistan in 2005-06 is also remembered. Musharraf had famously said, ‘I saw a placard which said “Dhoni have a haircut’. If you want to take my opinion, You look good in this haircut. Don’t have a haircut.”