Govt rejects Musharraf's request for Saudi Arabia visit

Interior ministry says travel ban on Musharraf imposed by SC, and they cannot lift it


Zahid Gishkori January 29, 2015
General (retd) Pervez Musharraf enjoys close personal ties with the Saudi rulers. PHOTO: INP

ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday rejected former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s request for travelling to Saudi Arabia to condole late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz's death.

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah had died on Friday and was replaced by his half-brother Crown Prince Salman.

Musharraf had filed a request last week. The incumbent Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government was considering to accept Musharraf’s request.

“Yes, the government rejected Musharraf’s plea today, saying they are unable to entertain the request to remove his name from the Exit Control List (ECL),” confirmed Faisal Chaudhry, the counsel for Pervez Musharraf. About his new plan, he said: “Our legal team will decide about our next steps how to pursue this matter.”

The former strongman, who enjoys close personal ties with the Saudi rulers, had asked for his name to be lifted off the exit control list (ECL) - a list that bars a person not to leave the country without taking prior permission - by writing a letter to the interior ministry last week.

“Musharraf is desirous to visit Saudi Arabia to express his heartfelt condolence on the sad demise of King Abdullah,” reads the letter written by Chaudhry to ministry of interior on behalf of the former president.

This week, senior leadership of the PML-N held marathon meetings in Murree and Islamabad to discuss the issue. Although some senior leaders were in favour of letting the former military ruler to visit Saudi Arabia, PM Nawaz asked Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar to put the matter on the Supreme Court, a senior official privy to the development told The Express Tribune.

Hence, the interior ministry rejected his request, claiming that since “Musharraf was barred from the apex court not to travel abroad, we are unable to lift his name from the ECL,” he explained.

He, however, made it clear that the decision was taken in consultation with the law ministry as it involved legal complications as well.

Last year, the Supreme Court had suspended Sindh High Court’s verdict on removing Musharraf's name from the ECL.

“The bench granted leave to determine whether the principle of merger can be applied in this case. In view of this order, the name of Pervez Musharraf will remain on the ECL,” Musharraf’s counsel Chaudhry Faisal Hussain commented on the court’s short order.

The Islamabad High Court has already been restrained a three-member special court, which heard Musharraf’s treason trial case to pursue this case till further order. The government, many believe, does not seem interested to pursue his trial case as prosecution team refuse to prosecute other abettors beyond Musharraf.

COMMENTS (15)

Dr.A.K.Tewari | 9 years ago | Reply

Millitary court is the only option left . Go there for immidiate releaf . As an ex service men you have full right to go there and appeal for justice to question all the blashphemers .

Parvez | 9 years ago | Reply

.......and the government shoots itself in the foot...once again.

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