*DUBAI/KARACHI: Taking back his earlier statement, former military dictatorPervez Musharraf on Thursday said that former army chief Raheel Sharifcannot be credited for helping him leave country for “medical treatment”*.
Speaking exclusively to ARY News, the former president maintained thatcrediting Raheel Sharif for helping him get the relief from court was justa “slip of tongue”.
“I just said that by mistake, I have never spoken to Raheel Sharifdirectly, it was all indirect (communication), I don’t know if he has doneanything for me, if he has done, I thank him but I don’t know if he helpedme or not,” said Musharraf.
When asked if he still thinks someone can be thanked for the relief, hesaid it can be then chief justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali.
He, however, added that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders toowanted him to go abroad.
“Supreme Court allowed me to travel abroad but removing my name from ExitControl List (ECL) is interior ministry’s job and how can interior ministeract without taking into confidence the prime minister? some PML-N leaderstoo wanted me to go so court allowed me, so they deserve this credit morethan the court,” Musharraf said.
Back in March 2016, A five-member SC bench headed by then Chief Justice ofPakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali ordered removing Musharraf’s name from theECL, allowing him to travel abroad for medical treatment.
The PML-N government had challenged a 2014 Sindh High Court ruling whichhad struck down its order of preventing retired General Pervez Musharraffrom leaving the country.
Months after flying for Dubai, Musharraf spoke to a private TV channel andsaid that former COAS Raheel Sharif helped him in the process.