Mush says he will not become a `useless vegetable`

"I am not going to resign. I will remain in Pakistan.... Rumours about my resignation are rubbish," he said in his first interaction with the media after the new government assumed office in March. "I cannot become a useless vegetable and I can't be witness to the downfall of the state," the 64-year-old former military ruler said, adding that he had no plan to leave the country. Trying at the same time to reach out to the PPP-led coalition government, Musharraf said he believed in "forgiving and patching up" and did not want any confrontation. "I haven't done a single confrontationist act... I believe in forgiving and patching up," he said, adding the presidency was not hatching any conspiracy against the government.

Significantly, Musharraf chose to speak to the media on a day when top political leaders were out of Pakistan. Musharraf said he would accept the Parliament's decision on reinstating the judges sacked by him during last year's emergency. "I am an elected President of Pakistan under the constitution. I will judge if I have any value in the country," he said. At the same time, Musharraf made it clear he would not sit idle if any move was made by the new government, led by the Pakistan People