A file photo of former preisdent of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court (SHC) accepted Pervez Musharraf’s three separate applications for protective bail on Friday, as the former military ruler reiterated that he would return to Pakistan on March 24.
He plans to return to Pakistan to lead his party – the all Pakistan Muslim League (APML) – in the 2013 parliamentary elections.
Musharraf is facing a string of legal cases, including the 2007 assassination of Pakistan Peoples Party chairperson Benazir Bhutto and the killing of Baloch chieftain Nawab Akbar Bugti.
SHC Chief Justice Mushir Alam granted Musharraf a 10-day bail on a petition filed by his daughter Dr Ayla Raza. The bail was granted in a case involving ‘house arrest’ of superior court judges who refused to take fresh oath under the Provisional Constitution Order 2007.
Separately, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah of the SHC granted a 15-day protective bail to the former military ruler in the cases of Benazir’s assassination and Bugti’s killing.
Musharraf will have to appear before the courts within the protection period to acquire a bail, or else he will have to face arrest once the protective period ends.
Barrister Salman Safdar and Advocate Abdul Qadir Halepota represented Musharraf at the SHC.
Outside the courtroom, APML activists flashed victory signs and chanted “Long Live Musharraf” and “Musharraf will come back, he will bring prosperity”.
In Dubai, Musharraf said that he would definitely return home on Sunday (March 24) and that he was prepared to risk any danger to his life.
“Two hundred percent! I am travelling back to Pakistan,” he told AFP in an interview. “I will go by land, air or sea ... even to the peril of my life, this is the oath I took for the country.”
He conceded that his powerbase was weak, saying he was open to the prospect of a coalition with other parties campaigning for change, including former cricket star Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI).
“If I (alone) cannot (succeed) then one must get into coalition. And when you talk about coalition ... those who have capability may be contributing towards better governance, should get into (the) coalition,” he said.
Musharraf said he will stand personally in four constituencies, but when asked how many seats the APML could realistically win, he said: “Frankly I don’t know. I think I will have a good judgment when I go there.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2013.
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Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has begun playing second game just now by takinga bold decision coming back to Pakistan at a time when the country stands at the distance not more than one and half month from the election expected in May.
Any rational review of the battle or preparedness in the acts expose most cards are in hands against him.
Coming back in the line of fire.
He is experienced army general, He has also prolonged political experience in the political field, let him come ,he has legal and constitutional right to contest for seat iof the parliament but before it would get no objection certificate from the higher court.
He would have to prove himself innocent. but prosecution has the other way,it mean legal war is expected,with interm bail it has begun.
Judiciary provided him a chance to take part in the election by granting interm bail,Pakistan's judiciary is really independent.