Musharraf was arrested on Oct 10 over the alleged murder of the deputy cleric of Lal Masjid. PHOTO: AFP
The court set Musharraf's bail at two surety bonds of 0.1 million rupees each, after considering new video evidence presented before the court today.
"The court has granted him bail," Afshan Adil, a member of Musharraf's legal team, told reporters. "Musharraf will not leave the country and will face all the cases."
She also said that the money would be paid on November 5.
Musharraf is still on the Exit Control List but he can freely move within the country.
Musharraf was arrested on October 10 on the order of Islamabad High Court (IHC) over the alleged murder of the deputy cleric of Lal Masjid, Abdul Rasheed Ghazi and his mother during a military operation in 2007. The ex-president had filed an application before the Additional District and Sessions Court and sought bail in this case.
During the course of hearing on October 30, attorneys from both the sides completed their arguments and judgment had been reserved till November 1. The hearing had further been delayed to November 4 to allow the prosecution more time to collect evidence.
General Musharraf’s counsel, Ilyas Siddiqui, had maintained that his client was wrongly implicated in the case as the First Information Report (FIR) was based on mala fide intentions.
Advocate Tariq Asad, representing the prosecution, termed the court’s decision unlawful, adding that they fully intend to challenge this decision.
COMMENTS (62)
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Government and courts wasted time and money on the cases filed against Musharraf despite knowing every reality and truth......
"Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again -- The eternal years of God are hers: But Error, wounded, writhes in pain, And dies among his worshippers." ------William Cullen Bryant Parvez Musharraf Zindabad!
Musharraf we love you Sir. You are the one who can take on the terrorists. We have no such hope from the current leadership. The terrorists are killing the innocent people while the so called main political leaders are bowing to the terrorists by accepting their supremacy. Shame on them.
We badly need brave and courageous leaders such as Musharraf.
Long live the real Pakistani leader! Can't wait to hear him again on TV. He is a true patriot who has the vision and the guts to say the right things.
@Ch. Allah Daad:
Nobody remembers Musharaf saying such a thing. He is a man enough to own up his actions and so he returned back to his country where some people are baying for his life. So that does not make him a coward.
@rex minor:
I hope you know today he has got bail for the raid on Lal Masjid ordered by Musharaf in which some people have been killed while tryng to escape. These people inside were Talibans who were carrying out their nefarious activities. Lal Masjid was not occupied by Islamic saints and scholars at the time of the raid, in case you are unaware. If he is being protected today from unruly elements then there is nothing wrong about it for every person in judicial or police custody gets protection. That Musharaf bent laws of Pakistan to suit himself or sent democratically elected govt into exile is not the point under discussion for his bail today. Also the disgraced nuclear scientist Abdul Qadir was placed under housed by Musharaf was because he openly admitted on National TV that he sold nuclear secrets to rogue nations like North Korea and Iran which is unethical. As it is Abdul Qadir does not leave Pakistan for he is internationally declared fugitive for stealing N-secrets from Norway to make Pak atom bomb.
Oh my god. This guy is responsible for what is happening in Baluchistan, KPK and all over Pakistan.. And he is not guilty of any thing... Yet we have lost a 100,000 people... Who is to blame then?
@Majid: Calling him a ' hero ' is a bit far fetched. For someone who was all powerful, to wait until the Lal Masjid situation ( happening right under his nose ) became a serious issue before taking action, resulting in the criminals being glorified and him being vilified.........can only be due to his shortcomings. Sadly he never learnt from his mistakes. He will be judged not so much for what he did but for what he could but did not do.
The Great Musharraf Pakistan needs you.
Musharraf really proved to be Commando,He chose to go to his most deadliest enemies the corrupt judges house Court wiithout any favour and support, finally he strangulate the necks of corrupt judiciary on blaming false fabricated cases. The most Bold Leader of Pakistan emerging as the most lawful among all lots.
"Advocate Tariq Asad, representing the prosecution, termed the court’s decision unlawful, adding that they fully intend to challenge this decision."
Is the court going to book Tariq Asad for the contempt?
Pakistani Knight risessssssss
When terrorists are killed, politicians condemn and put the hero in jail who eradicated such criminals. Are all those politicians are terrorists or friends of terrorists? Can our media at least for once publish the facts with answers to all the whys of lal masjid, bughti, etc. Everyone knows the true story but media has no guts to ink them.
@VJ Yousafali:
Take it easy with your verbatam; the news is about Mr Musharaf and not the Taliban? Infact it is because of the Taliban syndrom that he is being allowed such a protection in his own palace, which not even the Ramanovs were given in Russia. Remember this man rode roughshod with the law and your judiciary, sent democraticaly elected leadership into exile and put under house arrest one of the most brilliant nuclear scientist of the world.
Rex Minor
@VJ Yousafali: Please read the Musharaf's statement regarding Lal Masjid. He absolved himself from all decisions and blamed others for action. He is a coward who did not stand with his own soldiers.
So Pak Courts are Free now? Thanks to Mush and CJ Ch Iftekhar Mhmd. Catching the Laal Masjid schemers will be a Catch22. As a mater of fact...all of Mush's final decisions taken after given enough time and effort to find a peaceful solution if you look closely. Mush haters are sadly a voice from the Cancerous Cells of the body of Pak Nation.
Its good to see that Musharaf is shown some mercy otherwise coward would die with stress. But slowly and surely he must be punished for the crimes he committed against Pakistan. He is the one who sold Pakistan to foreign Masters, abrogated Constitution and killed innocent Pakistanis.
What a waste of leadership. Under Musharraf Pakistan was going up, now it has hit the pits. Wish he can again lead the country.
This is god news for Pakistan at the beginning of the Islamic New Year. Pl remember Musharaf is the only man who had the guts to order raid on Lal Masjid and empty the holy precints from the Talibani elements. What wrong had he done. Are Talibans good for any country? Are they doing any good to the cause of Islam? We all know how Pak has suffered so long due to Taliban terror. Islam has got a bad name all over the world due to Taliban acts. We all peace loving Muslims should salute Mr. Musharaf for his good deed and shun the Taliban acts.
Saudis are the new masters after our great and visionary leader Nawaz Sharif signed a deal with them.... in blood.
I liked Mushi....I saw Karachi back on its feet in his era. He made Pakistan speak on equal level with India, eye for a eye. But later when he made the NRO. Then I was disgusted by his wrong decision. Then I realized that he is still an Army man no a politician, and politicians had lured him to this trap. It will be great to see Mushi and IK join hands for a better Pakistan.
Why not put him on trial - seems like Pakistan has forgotten the whole point of arresting him - enough with the bail drama.
I feel sorry for Hamid Mir.Congrats to Musharaf and co
Where is Ch Allah Daad????? (biggest fan of NS on tribune.com.pk) He must crying somewhere.
The Burqa Brigade stands bright chances in the HC which has been packed by pro-terrorist judges.
@Parvez: What is yor definition of "properly?" Would you rather he nuked Lal Masjid, and destroyed Islamabad and Pindi with it? Musharraf is the best leader Pakistan had after a long, long time. And it is every Pakistani's misfortune that his administration did not last longer.
Triumph of honesty and uprightness. A karachite through n through. So proud of u, Sir,
Salute to great sir.
Nawaz Sharif as Prime Minister, Chaudhry the Chief Justice, Hamid Mir still at Geo, against all odds, the man steps out...In your face!
At last the friend of poor and middle class people has been granted bail. God bless you Musharraf.
Return of Worrier!
That is called Power. Long Live Musharraf
It is one of the most ridiculous allegations,the cleric had converted the place of workship into fortress and harassing all the passers by.I remember the adjacent building housing a govt dept was set on fire with all the vehicles.Such persons are unbalanced and anyone defending them are themslves unbalanced.A person who did not have mercy even on his sick mother, what was she doing in a place of Allah,s workship.
bring in more cases. so that critics must shut up once and for all.
Today is a BAD DAY for the son of Molana who filed this case against Mushy !!! He must be banging his head.
Welcome back our beloved, fearless leader! We love you General Pervez Musharraf! Pakistan First! :-)
Musharraf will keep hoovering over NS and SS like a drone :) No matter how much they huff and puff....
@Parvez: He did his best, but some freaks tried to make LAL masjid rioters "HEROS"
Musharaf is the true hero
I Love him - amazing news! It has made my day...Insha Allah he will soon be on TV with a press conference :)
He should be hanged! justice demands it.
Justice can be delayed but can't be denied ! Long alive Gen Musharraf !
This news has made my day.
Like most else even this Lal Masjid action of his was half-hearted........he should have done the job properly so that today criminals who challenge the writ of the state would think twice before acting..........sadly he did not and we are paying the price.
At last some light at end of the tunnel. Love you Mushi.
Good news for all Musharraf supporters, the true leader for Pakistan.
Congrats!
@logic: and we don't want to see you either - if a person who invested 44 years of his life for Pakistan doesn't have place to stay in Pak, than no one and specially you have any right to stay in Pakistan. Get out and go to Africa.
@Saad: He will not leave the country.. even if he leaves, what's the problem... if you have a ticket to Dubai or United States and Visa, you will also leave Pakistan due the mess in which our politicians put it into.
So he is done and dusted? is he calling a press conference today? Bashing NS and Nisar?!
@Saad: He will stay in Pakistan to clear his name from various baseless allegations.
strong textBye bye Musharraf. Don't think we will see you back in Pakistan any time soon...
You have nothing against the great leader.. so finally you will have to release him from all the cases... thank you for wasting everyone's time.
Return of a gladiator
Congratulations we salute musharraf
Now watch him leave the country today. ECL or no ECL
There is still justice in my country. Pakistan zindabad, Musharaf zindabad.
Finally, the right decision after much delay.
i love mushi