Gen (retd) Musharraf had requested the government to allow him to travel to Saudi Arabia and offer his condolences to the royal family. PHOTO: AFP
“A spokesman at the Prime Minister's Office Saturday clarified that they have received no application from the former president Gen Pervez Musharraf for permission to travel abroad,” read a short statement issued late on Saturday night.
The former president had reportedly sought permission from the government to allow him to travel to Saudi Arabia and personally offer his condolences to the royal family over the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. He had apparently filed a written request with the Interior Ministry in this regard.
Musharraf’s name had been placed on the exit control list (ECL) by the government because he is facing a number of trials including for committing treason and the murder of former Balochistan chief minister Nawab Akbar Bugti -- in which he was indicted last week.
Commenting on the statement by the Prime Minister’s office, Musharraf’s close associate Major General (Retd) Rashid Qureshi told The Express Tribune that the interior ministry had on Friday acknowledged receipt of the application.
He accused the government of using delaying tactics and lying on the matter.
Another close associate of Gen Mushrraf claimed that it is likely that the government may once again force the former president to go via the court route to seek relief.
“We were expecting a decision today. We had been receiving reports that they might allow him visit the royal family to offer condolences. It seems there is some last minute change,” the associate added.
Meanwhile, Haroon Rashid, the son of former Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Rasheed Ghazi who was killed during an operation ordered by Musharraf in July 2007, on Saturday filed a petition with the Interior Ministry warning that the ministry will be held responsible if it allows Musharraf to leave the country while the case against him remains unresolved.
Among other cases, Musharraf is facing a case in a local court for the military operation he ordered on the mosque.
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Govt considers mushraff case relevant to populace, peoples don’t consider it as, this Govt is thriving in still 80s-90s always misjudge the peoples, peoples don’t take it on mind what deal made by Nawaz with musharf and what mushraf would make or not, they need electricity and justice which seemingly scanty
Was Shareef family allowed by then military dictator Musharraf to attend the burial of their father Mian Mohammed Shareef in Pakistan while they were exiled in Saudi Arabia? He(Musharraf) shouldn’t be allowed to leave the country,he can very much condole on the phone if he likes..
There are two Pakistanis who received highest Saudi Civil award, Musharraf is the one. Musharraf enjoys such great relations with KSA and Royal family.. that's the only reason NS is alive today.
go nawaz go forever
How can we allow someone who trampled over the constitution to go unpunished and travel the world and hobnobbing with royalty !!?!
Let him go please and no need for him to come back.
First he wanted to meet his old mother who was supposedly sick and finally ended up being well and in Karachi. Now he wants to see the Wahabi King. Any excuse to get out of Pakistan
As you sow, so shall you reap. Betrayal of entire nation for greed of power should not be allowed for being a very high flight risk. Peanut brain created over 3000 plus their likes fanatics to die-hard terrorists at Lal Mosque that should have been Waco Texas for Pakistan.
" personally offer his condolences to the royal family over the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz." or saying good bye to Pakistan never again making the mistake of coming back.
The son of Abdul Rashid Ghazi should be in jail rather than sending threatening letters to the Pakistan govt and the courts. The cases have no merit and will disappear over time. Musharraf's name should be removed from the ECL immediately.