Court reserves judgment on Musharraf travel ban

Agencies/Islamabad

A Pakistani court yesterday reserved judgment on a request by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf for permission to travel abroad to see his sick mother.

Musharraf’s lawyer petitioned the Sindh High Court last month to remove the retired general’s name from an “exit control” list so he could leave the country.

The matter has been adjourned repeatedly over the past month but yesterday a two-member bench reserved its decision.

The ruling is likely to be announced later, a court official said.

Musharraf has faced a range of criminal cases dating back to his 1999-2008 rule since returning to Pakistan from self-imposed exile in March, including the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

He was granted bail in the four main cases against him but remains under guard at his farmhouse on the edge of Islamabad because of threats by Taliban insurgents to his life.

Last month the government announced it would put the 70-year-old on trial for treason and he has been ordered to appear before a special court on December 24.

It will be the first time in Pakistan’s history that a former military ruler will face a treason trial.

There have been persistent rumours that a deal would be struck to allow Musharraf to leave the country without standing trial to avoid a clash between the government and the all-powerful military.

But aides to the former commando have said he wants to stay and clear his name of all the charges against him.

So far the cases have proceeded slowly, edging from adjournment to adjournment with little clear progress apart from the granting of bail.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad Police have suggested to an anti-terrorism court (ATC) that venue for the treason trial of former Pakistan Army chief Pervez Musharraf in the judges’ detention case be changed for security reasons, official sources said.

An ATC judge was hearing an application by the counsel for Gen Musharraf seeking his client’s exemption from appearance during the trial.

The court had sought reports from the Islamabad police, administration and the interior ministry on the application. In his report, the deputy inspector general (security) expressed his inability to provide security to the former military ruler during his presence in the court.