Musharraf calls APML moot to mull homecoming

Spokesperson says leaders to discuss govt’s offer to provide former president ‘foolproof’ security

ISLAMABAD: Former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf has convened a meeting of the leaders of his All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) in Dubai on March 21 (tomorrow) to discuss the government’s offer to provide him ‘foolproof security’ upon his return to Pakistan to face a pending high treason trial.

“The APML leadership has been asked to attend the meeting in Dubai to discuss possible return of the former president to Pakistan and possible fallout of this move,” the APML joint secretary information Shehzad Arbi Satti told The Express Tribune.

The development came after the government on Monday wrote a letter to Akhtar Shah, Musharraf’s legal counsel, informing him that foolproof security would be provided to his client in case he intends to come back and become part of pending proceedings against him in a case related to high treason.

The Interior Ministry also asked Musharraf’s counsel to inform the government about his travelling plan and duration of stay in Pakistan. The ministry made this offer following a request of provision of foolproof security by Musharraf’s counsel.

“It is requested that the travel itinerary of General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf as well as his stay in Pakistan may be sent to this ministry at the earliest so that necessary foolproof security arrangements could be made for him well in time,” the letter said.



APML information secretary said the Interior Ministry ensured ‘foolproof security’ without giving specific details. “What will be the level of this security and which force will be deployed to provide security to General Musharraf are questions that the government has yet to clarify,” he added.

Musharraf, who ruled the country from 1999 till 2008, went abroad after he was forced to resign by the civilian government of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).  He, however, ended his self-exile in April 2013 ahead of the May 2013 polls.

However, the newly elected government of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in November 2013 approached the apex court to formally start a high treason trial against Musharraf for subverting the Constitution through promulgation of emergency in November 2007.

The former president, however, managed in March 2016 to slip out of Pakistan on the excuse of his deteriorating health after he pledged that he would soon return and face high-treason trial once he recovered completely.

This week, the special court hearing the high treason case issued a detailed order, asking the federal government to take measures to arrest Musharraf and also suspend his passport and computerised national identity card (CNIC).

The court also directed the interior ministry and all other government departments, divisions and agencies to take steps for his arrest and for attachment of his properties abroad.

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on March 16 said the decision to suspend passport and the CNIC of former military ruler had been postponed for seven days after Musharraf’s counsel assured the court that he would return to Pakistan to face trial.