Gen Musharraf hints at returning to Pakistan
Asks court to provide him foolproof security
Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
In a surprising move, former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has signalled willingness to return to Pakistan as he requested an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday to direct the authorities concerned to provide foolproof security for his appearance in court in the judges detention case.
While accepting his application, the ATC-II judge, Sohail Ikram, ordered Inspector General of Police and the secretary Ministry of Interior to make arrangements to provide foolproof security to the former president in order to ensure his presence in the court on the next date of hearing – February 9.
On December 8, the ATC had directed the police to initiate proclamation proceedings against Musharraf in the case over his continuous non-appearance before the court. Non-bailabale warrants of arrest are already out against Musharraf in the case and failure to appear before the court might lead to becoming a proclaimed offender.
Details of the possible return surfaced when Musharraf’s counsel Akhtar Shah submitted an application seeking security for his appearance before the ATC. The application has also sought exemption from personal appearance till the arrangements are made.
In the application, Shah said that without prejudice to other remedies and relief available to the petitioner under the law, he intends to appear before the court if the authorities provide adequate security.
Expressing concern over the security situation in the country, Shah stated that serious security threats have increased manifolds.
While referring to a terrorist attack on the district courts of Islamabad in March 2014 and another terrorist attack at a Quetta hospital in August 2016, he stated that “security conditions in the courts and otherwise have not yet improved.”
Shah said that under the prevailing circumstances and due to security and medical reasons, “it is neither safe nor advisable for General (retd) Pervez Musharraf to appear in person” in the court. He added that Musharraf is under constant watch and treatment by the doctors and he has been “advised not to travel till his health improves.”
In March 2016, Musharraf’s name was removed from Exit Control List after almost three years of being banned from international travel. He is facing a number of cases, including Abdul Rasheed Ghazi murder case, Benazir Bhutto murder case and high treason case.
Later in that week, the Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had said that the government relented because Musharraf had vowed to face all the cases against him and had “promised to return in four to six weeks”.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2017.
In a surprising move, former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has signalled willingness to return to Pakistan as he requested an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday to direct the authorities concerned to provide foolproof security for his appearance in court in the judges detention case.
While accepting his application, the ATC-II judge, Sohail Ikram, ordered Inspector General of Police and the secretary Ministry of Interior to make arrangements to provide foolproof security to the former president in order to ensure his presence in the court on the next date of hearing – February 9.
On December 8, the ATC had directed the police to initiate proclamation proceedings against Musharraf in the case over his continuous non-appearance before the court. Non-bailabale warrants of arrest are already out against Musharraf in the case and failure to appear before the court might lead to becoming a proclaimed offender.
Details of the possible return surfaced when Musharraf’s counsel Akhtar Shah submitted an application seeking security for his appearance before the ATC. The application has also sought exemption from personal appearance till the arrangements are made.
In the application, Shah said that without prejudice to other remedies and relief available to the petitioner under the law, he intends to appear before the court if the authorities provide adequate security.
Expressing concern over the security situation in the country, Shah stated that serious security threats have increased manifolds.
While referring to a terrorist attack on the district courts of Islamabad in March 2014 and another terrorist attack at a Quetta hospital in August 2016, he stated that “security conditions in the courts and otherwise have not yet improved.”
Shah said that under the prevailing circumstances and due to security and medical reasons, “it is neither safe nor advisable for General (retd) Pervez Musharraf to appear in person” in the court. He added that Musharraf is under constant watch and treatment by the doctors and he has been “advised not to travel till his health improves.”
In March 2016, Musharraf’s name was removed from Exit Control List after almost three years of being banned from international travel. He is facing a number of cases, including Abdul Rasheed Ghazi murder case, Benazir Bhutto murder case and high treason case.
Later in that week, the Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had said that the government relented because Musharraf had vowed to face all the cases against him and had “promised to return in four to six weeks”.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2017.