I’m surprised he still has that many supporters. 
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
At least 16 people in Karachi back Musharraf
- Wish president birthday, oppose impeachment
By Irfan Ali
KARACHI: Sixteen pro-Musharraf demonstrations wished him ‘Happy Birthday’ Monday and opposed his impeachment during a gathering at TK. The group included to women students carrying placards inscribed with slogans such as “No Impeachment.”
“We shall launch a book on the achievements of President Musharraf likely before Pakistan’s Independence Day on August 14,” said Basim, one of the demonstrators. Daily Times asked Basim why he supported President Musharraf. He said he felt he had served Pakistan and benefited people. The American University of Sharjah student, a mere teenager, said that he had authentic information about the president’s achievements.
Demonstrator Alfiyah, 25, who is working at an engineering firm, said that they were a group of ordinary citizens and they had no political affiliation. “Likeminded friends decided to express our support for President Musharraf,” she said, “Had it been an organized movement, more people would have joined us.”
What has Musharraf done for Pakistan is the central idea of the book. “People want to know which is why we have compiled authentic information,” said Mrs Haq, a 50-something homemaker, who worked on the project with Alfiyah.
Basim argued that Musharraf had improved economic conditions and brought stability for Pakistan. He said that ‘The Economist’, ‘Almanac’ and many other international publications have attested to his services. “Mr Musharraf is not an isolated person. We, the ordinary Pakistanis are with him,” another demonstrator said.
In general pro-Musharraf Karachi residents see him as a liberal ruler and for those who belong to the lower-middle class of the city, he precipitated mega development projects during his tenure as chief executive and president. “Frankly speaking, Karachi has been developed during Musharraf’s rule. Is it not good for me and you,” said a shopkeeper in a commercial market in Saddar while referring to new roads, underpasses, overhead bridges and fly-overs. However, Karachi remains divided over support for Musharraf with the PPP and the Awami National Party opposing him and the MQM supporting him.
The PPP’s Karachi East chapter will stage an anti-Musharraf rally on Tuesday. This will be the second anti-Musharraf rally so far and is scheduled to start from Shahrah-e-Faisal and culminate at Bilawal House.
