DUBAI – Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf on Thursday saidthat he was all set to return to the country, however, the Supreme Courtorder for his arrest forced him to change his mind.
“There will be no benefit of my return to the country if I am arrested justafter my appearance before the court,” Musharraf said. “The entire worldknows that I am not a coward, but now I will wait for an appropriate timeto return,” he further said.ADVERTISEMENT
Musharraf , 74, who has been in exile in Dubai and London since 2016 isfacing several cases in the Supreme and High Courts, including one fortreason for allegedly subverting the constitution and the Supreme Courtearlier this month asked him to return to Pakistan if he wanted to contestthe General Elections scheduled on July 25.
The former president told reporters through a video link that the apexcourt order “barring the authorities from arresting me till my appearancebefore the august court has forced me to rethink my plans about return”.
Musharraf had left the country on March 18, 2016 for medical treatmentafter the authorities removed his name from the Exit Control List. Hislawyers say he is still getting medical treatment abroad as he suffers fromParkinson’s disease.
Musharraf had filed nominations from two constituencies from his partyplatform, the All Pakistan Muslim League. However, first, he had hisnomination papers rejected from the NA-1 constituency, Chitral by thereturning officer and then withdraw his nomination himself from NA-247 inKarachi after he was told to appear before the election officer.ADVERTISEMENT
The Supreme Court on June 13 had issued a rebuke to the former strongmanand directed him to present himself before the court in 24-hours and thefate of his nomination papers depended on his appearance before the court.
“If Pervez Musharraf is a commando, he should show us by returning insteadof continuously parroting like a politician that he will return,” ChiefJustice, Saqib Nisar had been quoted by the media.
“Why does Musharraf need protection, what is he so afraid of?” the CJPwondered. “How can a commando be so afraid? Musharraf has said that heevaded death many times but was never afraid,” he remarked. “He didn’t feelafraid when he was taking over this country,” the top judge added.
Asked about the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) to probe into hisassets, the former president said he had no issues with the investigationsinto his assets and would cooperate fully with the NAB.
“What have I to hide as I live in a three-bedroom apartment,” he said.
Musharraf had formed the All Pakistan Muslim League party after steppingdown as president before the 2008 general elections, 10 years after he leda successful military coup against prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
APML president Dr Muhammad Amjad said that Musharraf was willing to returnto the country, but the Supreme Court had given him insufficient time underwhich arrangements for his travel, accommodation and security could not bemade.