Court paves way for Musharraf return to Pakistan
Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s former military ruler, has confirmed he will return from exile on Sunday after a court granted him pre-arrest bail in a series of cases.
Pervez Musharraf Photo: PHILLIP HOLLIS
By Rob Crilly, Islamabad
11:47AM GMT 22 Mar 2013
Mr Musharraf, 69, who has been in self-imposed exile for five years, is planning to arrive back in Karachi on Sunday.
He faces a slew of charges – including treason and conspiracy to murder – as well as the threat of assassination as the country gears up for a general election in May.
Although his political lieutenants have largely deserted him and his grass roots support has withered, Mr Musharraf has spent the past year insisting he will return. He aborted an attempt last year when Pakistan’s most senior general warned him not to come.
This time nothing has been left to chance. His daughter, Ayla Raza, petitioned a court in Karachi to ensure he would not face arrest immediately.
Judge Sajjad Ali Shah posted bail at 300,000 rupees (£2,000) in three cases: the 2007 sacking of judges, the 2006 death of Akbar Bugti, a Baluch rebel leader in the south-west and the 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
Salman Safdar, one of Mr Musharraf’s lawyers, said: “He has full protection now and he cannot be arrested in these cases upon his arrival in Pakistan.”
A handful of his supporters from chanted, “Long Live Musharraf,” and “Musharraf will come back, he will bring prosperity,” outside the court in Karachi.
Mr Musharraf seized power in 1999 in a military coup. He stepped down in 2008, after his party faired badly in elections and fled the country as impeachment proceedings loomed.
One former aide said Mr Musharraf had struggled with the idea of retirement and did not understand that his support base in Pakistan had moved on.
“He used to be the leader of the country,” he said. “Does he realise that the best he can hope for is to be a backbencher?”
The court’s decision removes a major hurdle to his return. His supporters feared his plane might be refused permission to land or that he would be arrested as soon as he set foot on Pakistani soil.
This time he has chartered an airliner to carry reporters and supporters with him on Sunday and is even selling photo opportunities at $250 before his departure from Dubai.
He still faces prosecution in all the cases, including accusations that he failed to provide Mrs Bhutto with proper security on the day she died in a suicide attack.
