The news conference marked the first time Musharraf had given any public reaction to the May 12 Supreme Court decision. In its ruling, the court upheld Musharraf's ouster of Nawaz Sharif, the democratically elected prime minister, on October 12, 1999. It gave Musharraf three years from the date of the coup to complete his promises to rescue Pakistan from political and economic collapse. Musharraf told reporters he was determined to carry out his mission. He outlined plans to broaden Pakistan's tax base, increase tax revenue and revive the economy through reforms, including cutting thousands of civil service jobs.
Nation building is national reconstruction.
Cosmetics will not work. Only about 1.2 million of Pakistan's 140 million people pay any taxes, and many businessmen and traders oppose Musharraf's tax reform plans. But he insisted at the news conference that he would stay the course. This is our survival, this is our future. Sharif appealing conviction Musharraf took over the government after Sharif refused to allow a commercial flight carrying Musharraf and nearly 200 other passengers and crew to land in Pakistan.