Former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf has resigned as chairman of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), said APML president Dr Amjad.
Musharraf has sent his resignation to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). It was no longer possible for the former president to run the party from abroad, Dr Amjad said.
Earlier this week, the ECP rejected Musharraf’s nomination papers for NA-1 Chitral after the Supreme Court withdrew its conditional approval for the former ruler to file nomination papers for the upcoming general elections after he failed to appear before the court.
Dr Amjad, previously the general secretary of the party, has been elevated to the position of chairman. He will now be directing all party affairs and deciding APML’s role in the upcoming general elections.
The party has reportedly sent a formal request to the ECP notifying about the change in its chairmanship. Musharraf, despite his resignation, will remain the supremo of the APML.
Musharraf founded APML in 2010. Despite the party announcing boycott of the 2013 election just days before the balloting, two of its candidates still contested and won two seats from Chitral. The retired general was barred from contesting the 2013 election due to several cases registered against him.
Published in Daily Times, June 23rd 2018.
