Former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf

DUBAI: Former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has said that in Pakistan, military rulers put the country on the correct track while the civilian governments derail it from the right path.

In an interview with BBC Urdu, Musharraf said, ?Whenever martial laws were imposed in Pakistan it was the need of the hour.?

?Whether it is democracy, dictatorship, communism, socialism or a kingdom, it does not make any difference for the people of the country as citizens need only progress and prosperity, employment and security,? he asserted.

The former president went on to say, ?If we compare the past records of civilian and military governments, Pakistan always progressed during dictatorship regimes.?

Commenting on the separation of East Pakistan (Bangladesh) in 1971, Musharraf said, ?Bhutto (Zulfikar Ali Bhutto) not the military was responsible for the fall of Dhaka. Gen Yahya Khan was also accused of it in some way but during the 10 years of Gen Ayub Khan's regime, Pakistan witnessed record progress.?

To a question, the former military ruler said: ?Ousting the government is only the right of the masses, however, the situation in Pakistan is absolutely different. This right is exercised when there are a check and balance in the Constitution. People themselves come to the military to get rid of the civilian governments. People also came to me to do so ? and I took over the civilian government on their demand.?

?While protecting the Constitution, we can?t destroy the nation, however, the Constitution can be slightly ignored for protecting the nation.?

Musharraf said the case against him under Article 6 is inappropriate.

The general blamed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif of a ?total sale out policy? towards India.

To another question pertaining to the assistance in his exit from Pakistan, Musharraf said, ?I remained the army chief and I believe the army will always consider my welfare.?

This article originally appeared in The News