The Hindu : I saved Pak. from sinking: Musharraf

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 17, 2002

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International

I saved Pak. from sinking: Musharraf

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Nov. 16. The Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, today said that his country was ``a rudderless ship'' when he took over in October 1999, and that he pulled it ``out of the storm and set it on full sail.''

Presiding over the last joint meeting of the National Security Council and the Cabinet here, Gen. Musharraf claimed that in the last three years, his Government introduced "meritocracy and transparency" in governance and succeeded in running a "corruption-free" administration. He and his colleagues were proud that after more than two decades of stagnation, they had brought the country to a "take-off stage." It was now for the elected government to build on the foundation his team laid.

Gen. Musharraf said that three years ago, he had put together a group of professionals in the Cabinet who were strangers to each other. They, however, soon became a good team and were now parting as friends and comrades who brought strength and pride back to Pakistan. No individual or association was permanent and it was the country alone which had permanence. Governance must, therefore, remain the interest of Pakistan and he had always kept that interest foremost.

Gen. Musharraf claimed that he had taken certain "difficult decisions" in the larger and long-term interest of the country, particularly in the interest of its economic and political stability. Pakistan could afford no further ``disruption and misgovernance'' and it was with that objective in mind that he had been emphasising the need to continue reforms.

The next five years, Gen. Musharraf said, would be very important for Pakistan and expressed the confidence that the new government would take advantage of the sound marco-economic policies initiated by his Government. ``If Pakistan follows the course and employs the right tactics to implement the strategy that has been crafted after much deliberation and with great care, rich dividends would soon be available,'' he told his colleagues.

An official statement said earlier that the Service Chiefs, the Provincial Governors and members of the Cabinet "paid glowing tributes to the leadership of President Pervez Musharraf, who, they said, is leaving behind an enviable legacy of efficient and honest governance. They said that the high standards of personal integrity, efficiency, commitment and dedication will now be the benchmark against which the performance of all governments will be judged by the people of Pakistan.''

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