Govt denies receiving Musharraf's request for travel to Saudi Arabia
Musharraf's aides say its a delaying tactic by the government, who want him to seek relief through courts
Gen (retd) Musharraf had requested the government to allow him to travel to Saudi Arabia and offer his condolences to the royal family. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Amid conflicting reports of the government deliberating on whether to allow former dictator General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf to travel to Saudi Arabia, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s office denied that the government had received any such application.
“A spokesman at the Prime Minister's Office Saturday clarified that they have received no application from the former president Gen Pervez Musharraf for permission to travel abroad,” read a short statement issued late on Saturday night.
The former president had reportedly sought permission from the government to allow him to travel to Saudi Arabia and personally offer his condolences to the royal family over the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. He had apparently filed a written request with the Interior Ministry in this regard.
Musharraf’s name had been placed on the exit control list (ECL) by the government because he is facing a number of trials including for committing treason and the murder of former Balochistan chief minister Nawab Akbar Bugti -- in which he was indicted last week.
Commenting on the statement by the Prime Minister’s office, Musharraf’s close associate Major General (Retd) Rashid Qureshi told The Express Tribune that the interior ministry had on Friday acknowledged receipt of the application.
He accused the government of using delaying tactics and lying on the matter.
Another close associate of Gen Mushrraf claimed that it is likely that the government may once again force the former president to go via the court route to seek relief.
“We were expecting a decision today. We had been receiving reports that they might allow him visit the royal family to offer condolences. It seems there is some last minute change,” the associate added.
Meanwhile, Haroon Rashid, the son of former Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Rasheed Ghazi who was killed during an operation ordered by Musharraf in July 2007, on Saturday filed a petition with the Interior Ministry warning that the ministry will be held responsible if it allows Musharraf to leave the country while the case against him remains unresolved.
Among other cases, Musharraf is facing a case in a local court for the military operation he ordered on the mosque.
Amid conflicting reports of the government deliberating on whether to allow former dictator General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf to travel to Saudi Arabia, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s office denied that the government had received any such application.
“A spokesman at the Prime Minister's Office Saturday clarified that they have received no application from the former president Gen Pervez Musharraf for permission to travel abroad,” read a short statement issued late on Saturday night.
The former president had reportedly sought permission from the government to allow him to travel to Saudi Arabia and personally offer his condolences to the royal family over the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. He had apparently filed a written request with the Interior Ministry in this regard.
Musharraf’s name had been placed on the exit control list (ECL) by the government because he is facing a number of trials including for committing treason and the murder of former Balochistan chief minister Nawab Akbar Bugti -- in which he was indicted last week.
Commenting on the statement by the Prime Minister’s office, Musharraf’s close associate Major General (Retd) Rashid Qureshi told The Express Tribune that the interior ministry had on Friday acknowledged receipt of the application.
He accused the government of using delaying tactics and lying on the matter.
Another close associate of Gen Mushrraf claimed that it is likely that the government may once again force the former president to go via the court route to seek relief.
“We were expecting a decision today. We had been receiving reports that they might allow him visit the royal family to offer condolences. It seems there is some last minute change,” the associate added.
Meanwhile, Haroon Rashid, the son of former Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Rasheed Ghazi who was killed during an operation ordered by Musharraf in July 2007, on Saturday filed a petition with the Interior Ministry warning that the ministry will be held responsible if it allows Musharraf to leave the country while the case against him remains unresolved.
Among other cases, Musharraf is facing a case in a local court for the military operation he ordered on the mosque.