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Former Pakistan president General Pervez Musharraf has said that he has a huge fan following on popular social networking site Facebook, which is consistently urging him to return to Pakistan to lift it from the 'prevalent political chaos'.
Speaking before an audience of more than 1,000 people at a sell-out event at the Hay Festival of Literature in mid Wales, Musharraf, who is living in London on an unannounced exile, claimed that his Facebook fan following has increased considerably in the recent past.
He said 80 per cent of his fans are youngsters in the age group between 18 and 34, who are perturbed over Pakistan's present condition.
"In five months, my fan club has risen to 2,00,000. The youth is dismayed at the situation prevailing in Pakistan," The Telegraph quoted Musharraf as saying.
While emphasising that a sound economy holds the key for transforming the country into a successful and developed nation, Musharraf said, "Whether its development of the state, welfare or the well-being of the people, it can only be done if your economy is doing well."
The former general said that he would do whatever he can to bring stability and peace to Pakistan.
"If I can do something for Pakistan, I should try. It is better to try and fail than not to try at all. It is bigger than self," Musharraf said.
Describing Afghanistan as the 'gravity' of all issues facing the region, Musharraf said it was important that the 'war on terror' continues to its logical end.
"The centre of gravity for all this is Afghanistan. As a soldier I see that we have to defeat the centre of gravity. We have to win, and we can win; we have to be optimistic," he said.