Musharraf says Pakistan can’t sustain western democracy

I am not an anti-India, but Pakistan’s interests are dearer to me, he said in a statement.

He claimed that he had allowed only one US drone strike, but nine of such strikes were conducted in the country during his reign.

He said treason cases against him were politically motivated. “Actions against me are being taken with intent of revenge,” he said.

Recently, the Supreme Court of Pakistan, trying Musharraf for treason, on November 21 ordered the government to add a former prime minister, law minister and chief justice to the charge sheet.

Musharraf, 71, returned to Pakistan last April vowing to run in the general election to “save” the country from Taliban militancy and economic ruin.

The case against Musharraf relates to his decision to impose emergency rule on November 3, 2007 shortly before the Supreme Court was due to decide on the legality of his re-election as president a month earlier, while he was still army chief.

He had seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, deposing then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif — who was elected PM for a third time in May last year in a landslide victory.