Court remands Musharraf to 14 days in jail

Interior Ministry officials maintain that Musharraf's name remains on the "exit control list".


Afp October 11, 2013
Interior Ministry officials maintain that Musharraf's name remains on the "exit control list". PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The Anti Terror Court on Friday ordered former military ruler Pervez Musharraf to be held for 14 days over a 2007 raid on a radical mosque, a decision that means he must remain confined to his villa.

Police arrested Musharraf late on Thursday on charges that a military raid ordered by him on the Red Mosque in Islamabad left dozens dead. The arrest came just hours after his bail was processed for being implicated in the murder of the former Balochistan governor Nawab Akbar Bugti.

The 70-year-old has been confined to his villa on the edge of Islamabad, which has been declared a "sub-jail" since April over a string of cases dating back to his 1999-2008 rule.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted him bail over the death of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a move that could have seen him freed once release procedures were completed.

He had already been granted bail in two other major cases against him, including one relating to the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

"The court remanded Musharraf for 14 days. The next date of hearing has been fixed for October 25," a court official told AFP.

Musharraf's lawyer Afshan Adil confirmed the details of the order. Though they said Wednesday's bail order meant he was a "free man", in practice his life is in such danger that he cannot leave his villa, where he is guarded by 300 heavily-armed police and soldiers.

The Taliban have threatened to kill the 70-year-old former general, who as president allied Pakistan with Washington in the US "war on terror" in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

Interior ministry officials also confirmed that Musharraf's name remains on the "exit control list", meaning he is officially barred from leaving Pakistan, even if he is freed.

COMMENTS (17)

Sohraab | 10 years ago | Reply

@Aqib Ali Shah: It seems you know nothing about Economics and current affairs of the state......Musharraf's tenure was the best in the last 60 years of Pakistan's history. Open your eyes, READ, LEARN....my friend!

Ahmed Ali Khan | 10 years ago | Reply

@Aqib Ali Shah:

What are you talking about? are you living in lala land.

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