Musharraf wants defence ministry’s protection on return

ISLAMABAD: The Special Court hearing the treason case against former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf ordered the federal government on Friday to put special measures in place to bring the ex-military ruler back from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The three-member Special Court issued a written order on Friday. Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Yahya Afridi is heading the bench which includes Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Yawar Ali and Balochistan High Court Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar.

The Special Court ordered that the Ministry of Interior should take action for the arrest of the former military ruler through the Interpol. However, the Ministry of Interior said that institutions had been restrained from action against Pervez Musharraf following his assurance of return to the country shortly.

The court also ruled that the federal government should take measures for the confiscation of assets of Musharraf. The former president’s advocate in his arguments said that an application was sent to the Interior Ministry for the security of Musharraf.

In the previous hearing on March 8, the court ordered the confiscation of the ex-army chief’s properties. The bench formed in 2013 is hearing the case of imposition of extra-constitutional emergency by Musharraf in November 2007.

Musharraf through his counsel requested for foolproof security upon return to Pakistan in relation to his appearance before the court. Musharraf’s counsel forwarded a petition to the Ministry of Defence on the orders of the Special Court constituted to try Musharraf for treason.

The former president’s counsel forwarded the request to the Defence Ministry. In the petition, it was stated that the former president faced security threats. Meanwhile, All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) President Dr Muhammad Amjad said that the APML Chairman General (retd) Pervez Musharraf decided to come back to the country within 6 to 8 weeks. In this respect General Musharraf has called a meeting of the party leadership on March 21 in Dubai to finalise arrangements for his return. In the meeting, Musharraf's date of arrival and city will also be decided.

Dr Amjad said that the APML chairman is ready to face the court cases formed against him and he will also lead the election campaign for the 2018 general elections. For the provision of adequate security to General Musharraf, applications have been filed with the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defence and there are hopes that the government will give good response, Dr Amjad said.

He said that not only the APML workers but the leadership of the political alliance Pakistan Awami Ittehad, formed by General Musharraf are enthusiastically waiting for his arrival as they want him to lead the election campaign.