Pakistan's Ex-President Cancels Return

Islamabad, Jan 28, IRNA – Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf, who was scheduled to end his three-year self-exile and to return to the country by the end of January, has decided to cancel his arrival, media reported Saturday. Daily ‘The Nation’ reported that the decision was taken in Musharraf’s political party core committee meeting held in Dubai. Musharraf had announced to return to Pakistan between January 27-30. All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) leader Barrister Saif has said that the committee has forced the party chairman (Musharraf) to cancel his visit, though he is not happy over the decision but he accepted. Musharraf, the former army chief, took over in a bloodless coup in 1999 and resigned in August 2009 fearing impeachment by the parliament. He has been living in exile in Britain and the UAE since then. There were reports that Chief of Pakistani top intelligence agency had held a secret meeting with Pervez Musharraf in Dubai advising him not to visit Pakistan. Pakistani Senate has also passed a resolution, demanding high treason trial of Musharraf, which carries death penalty in Pakistani laws. An anti-terrorism court has issued arrest warrant of Musharraf in connection of the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Another court in southwestern Balochistan also issued his arrest warrant in the murder of tribal elder Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006. Musharraf says that all cases against him are politically motivated and that he would defend himself in the court sessions./end