Musharraf backs public's outcry for 'change'

Former Pakistan president general (retd) Pervez Musharraf has come out in support of public demand for change in the country's political system before another election is held.

In an interview with a private TV channel late on Tuesday night, Musharraf said that 'change must come before elections'. He stressed that the nation needs reforms and change before going for another election and quoted political leaders like Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan as examples.

The former Pakistani dictator described the protests in Islamabad as something that has never happened before in the history of the nation and said that the public was exercising its democratic right by protesting.

Musharraf listed a range of problems like corruption, nepotism, terrorism, tanking economy and no access to justice plaguing Pakistan, the Dawn reported.

He asserted that the state of Pakistan was more important than an individual, adding that one must rise above all differences for the interest of the country.

He further stated in the interview that Pakistan was not like Iraq and expressed his full faith on the military's ability to keep the country intact.