Musharraf being pushed into voluntary exile Efforts to convince Gen Musharraf leave the country after bail accelerated Ahmad Hassan Monday, November 04, 2013 From Print Edition 9 1 8 0 ISLAMABAD: History is repeating itself but in a different way, the military ruler, who sent Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family into exile on advice of a ‘friendly’ country 13 years back, is today being asked to leave the country for good to lessen the internal pressure to try him for treason and abrogation of the Constitution. Interestingly, the name of Gen Musharraf has been put on exit control list on the orders of the Sindh High Court on his returning home from self exile early this year and unless interior minister removes it, he cannot leave the country. Thirteen years back, Nawaz Sharif and his family had signed an agreement for a 10 years exile to Saudi Arabia (although they were allowed to return after seven years as a bargain) which the family members always denied and blamed Musharraf for forcing them to leave the country. Gen (r) Musharraf, on the contrary, is adamant from day one and is insisting he will face all cases and till exoneration or conviction would not leave the country. Even, he once said, “I will not go to take care of my ailing mother in Dubai as is suggested by some quarters and would like to bury her alongside my father when she dies” an aide to Musharraf told this correspondent. According to an informed source, who has access to former military ruler Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf, a five member delegation of PML-N and PTI top notch leaders visited the farm house in Chak Shehzad on Thursday evening (in an attempt to keep the visit top secret) and told him that a bail is likely to be granted to him on November 1 the day fixed by additional district and session judge Islamabad for announcement of verdict on bail application in Lal Masjid case. The delegation which also included a former foreign minister who has since joined the PTI and a couple of sitting ministers from the PML-N threatened the general that he wouldn’t be able to get bail if he disagrees with their proposal. The general, the source said, asked the delegation as to why were they pressuring him to leave the country out of some sort of fear. They repeatedly asked this question which had no reply. The members of delegation left the house which despite its grace and pomp serves as sub jail for (r) General. The next day, the court not only rescheduled the announcement of the verdict to November 4 but also ordered initiation of fresh investigation into the case. Earlier, it may be recalled a report has been published in this newspaper about the government’s intention to drag Gen Musharraf in Attock fort case. The reliable source who requested anonymity as precondition for the revelation said, the high level delegation told Gen Musharraf that his bail is being granted tomorrow (Nov 1) and asked him to leave the country as soon as the bail application is approved. The General, it would be recalled, is undergoing a number of cases, including killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti, judges detention and Lal Masjid operation and while he has been allowed bail in first two, his application for bail in the third is pending for announcement of verdict.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 05:05:48 +0000
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