On his first day out, Musharraf listens to Rafi

Most of Musharraf’s friends congratulated him on his “safe exit”, The News daily reported. One friend, a retired naval official, pointed out that Musharraf was the only military ruler who was given a guard of honour by the army on his departure from the Presidency.

Musharraf received phone calls from his well-wishers, who expressed their solidarity with the former President and said the two main coalition partners Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, would start fighting with each other. When a friend informed him that Zardari wanted to replace him with a woman, he laughed and claimed “as long as (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief) Maulana Fazlur Rehman is part of the ruling coalition, no woman can become President of Pakistan”.

On Tuesday, Musharraf watched TV channels, which were beaming the celebrations by the public on his departure. He smiled and said that “all these TV wallahs will be taught great lessons by Zardari and Nawaz Sharif soon”. He later listened to songs by Rafi, including his favourite Chal Urr Jaa Rey Panchi. He called a friend and reportedly told him, “I am here, I will not run away. I am not a panchi who will fly away from Pakistan.”