LONDON: A British Pakistani politician was instrumental in paving the way for former military ruler General (retired) Pervez Musharraf to stand in the upcoming Pakistani elections from the northern district of Chitral.
Sarfraz Kahlon, who is the former lord mayor of Cambridge and a loyal friend of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) President Musharraf, played a vital role in ensuring that the former member of National Assembly Shahzada Moinuddin of Chitral vacated his parliamentary seat in favour of the former president who has returned to Pakistan after ending exile in London and Dubai.
Kahlon is known to have key political and personal connections in Chitral and his son Raza Anjum is married into a local influential family. Anjum arranged several private meetings between Moinuddin and Musharraf at his residence in Cambridge and in Dubai where the political deal to support Musharraf was formed.
When contacted, he said: “I also spoke to other key political stakeholders in Chitral and was able to get a guarantee that they would back Musharraf’s efforts to win from Chitral.”
Kahlon, who accompanied Musharraf in his return to Pakistan, arranged for two APML provincial assembly tickets to be given to Khalid Pervez, son of Moinuddin, and former member of provincial assembly from Chitral Ghulam Muhammad, who will both contest from Chitral.
Kahlon is a loyal aide who has publicly stood by Musharraf throughout his time in exile. Musharraf’s first public appearance in the UK, after leaving Pakistan, was at the wedding of the son of Kahlon in the British Houses of Parliament.
National Assembly constituency NA-32 Chitral holds significance for Musharraf as this is the only constituency in which his nomination papers were accepted. In other constituencies, Musharraf’s nomination papers have been rejected by the Returning Officers of the Election Commission of Pakistan and he has now been put on the Exit Control List too.
Kahlon credited Musharraf with initiating widespread development work in Chitral and for “speaking out loudly to project Pakistan’s positive image in the world.” He added: “Musharraf is the right man to lead Chitralis as he has a special bond with the people and could advance the welfare and well-being of Chitralis. Moinuddin agreed as he believed this was in the best interests of the people of Chitral and I am thankful to him.”
Internews
