Yes, we do love it when our leaders show their wild sense of humour. Here's the best from Pakistan, beginning with its colourful former president General Pervez Musharraf.

On Musharraf

 

General Pervez Musharraf, former President of Pakistan (Photo by Remy Steinegger for World Economic Forum)

 

1. If Musharraf is thinking he can stage a comeback, it’s only because compared with how things are now, his era looks relatively better.

-- Former cricket legend-turned-chairman of party, Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf, Imran Khan

I launched my Facebook page eight months ago; today I have more than 315,000 fans.

2. I launched my Facebook page eight months ago; today I have more than 315,000 fans.

-- Former president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf

 

On the enemy

3. Kamran Khan, the famous Geo TV anchorperson, presented 560 news stories solely on President Asif Zardari, mainly to target him. Ansar Abbasi is also working on the same agenda, i.e. to weaken democracy in Pakistan. Both the senior journalists are “Indian agents”.

-- Senior Minister of Punjab Assembly, Raja Riaz

 

4. No Muslim is involved in suicidal attacks in Pakistan, and rather Blackwater (Xe) – a US private contractor – and Indian agents are involved in these incidents.

-- Chief, Jamaat e Islamic, an Islamic political party, Syed Munawar Hasan

5. Yesterday, when I asked Khwaja Imran Nazir for a lift, he was listening to Munni Badnam, an Indian song, in his car.

-- MPA Punjab Assembly, Hassan Murtaza, commenting on Pakistan's troubled past of military revolts

Even if contract is given to America it will also be unable to bring peace.

On law and order

6. Even if contract is given to America it will also be unable to bring peace.

-- Sindh Home Minister, Zulfiqar Mirza, on addressing a spate of race-targeted killings in the city of Karachi.

 

7. I am not afraid of jail’s mosquitoes.

-- President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, giving his response to efforts to oust his ruling party from power.

 

8. Munawar Gill committed adultery with consent, can’t take action.

-- Punjab Law Minister, Rana Sanaullah, in response to the political advisor being accused of rape.

 

9. All out efforts are being made to overcome the energy crisis and the load-shedding would end by December 2009.

-- Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf, on tackling the energy crisis which was still going on in 2010.

 

 

World renowned Pakistani cricket legend Imran Khan founded his own political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf after retirement, and remains active in politics. (Photo by Jawad Jakariya)

 

On integrity in politics

10. The MQM will openly support the patriotic generals if they take any martial law-type action against corrupt politicians and feudal lords.

-- Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain

 

11. Tehrik-e-Insaf will back military rule in the country for the sake of stability.

-- Chairman Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, Imran Khan

 

12. My own brother approached me and said lala (brother), ‘Can I also join your party?’ I told him to run away…you are a known gambler.

-- Dr. Sher Afgan Niazi, Member of All Pakistan Muslim Leagues

 

13. I have sent Gilani to the PPP and I will call him back to the PML, when he becomes tired.

-- Chief of PML F, Pir Pagara, on turning over the better man to the other party.

 

14. How a person, who used to sell tickets at Bambino cinema in Karachi, reached the Surrey Palace and became richer than Queen Elizabeth before his ascendancy to the presidency? It is a million-dollar question that only the PPP top leader has to answer.

-- Spokesman, Pakistan Muslim League N, Siddiqul Farooq, referring to the missing files pertaining to alleged corruption of President Zardari, ranked 8th richest in the world.

 

This post was originally published on Tanzeelism in October 2010.