Speculation rife on Musharraf’s possible exit from Pakistan

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Speculation rife on Musharraf’s possible exit from Pakistan

Dawn.com Published April 1, 2014

ISLAMABAD: Speculations are rife that former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf is likely to leave the country after a special aircraft of a Gulf country was spotted at the Noor Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, DawnNews reported on late Monday night.

Meanwhile his lawyer Senator Farogh Nasim has filed a formal request with the Interior Ministry to allow him to travel abroad.

Earlier in a news conference held after the hearing of the treason case, Senator Nasim said that the special court has already clarified that Musharraf is not under the court’s custody and he is free to move.

Rumours began circulating about the former dictator’s departure the moment news of his illness last week and subsequent admission in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) came out on Sunday night.

Musharraf’s condition deteriorated due to high stress after his elderly mother was admitted to a hospital in Sharjah last week.

Earlier on Monday, a special court constituted to try former military dictator for high treason indicted him but at the same time granted Musharraf exemption from appearing in the hearings.

The court said that accused could be ordered to appear in court whenever required and adjourned the hearing to April 15.

However, the court added that removal of Musharraf's name from the exit control list was not its prerogative as it had not ordered for the inclusion of his name in the list.

The decision also meant that it was up to the government to allow or deny the request put forward by the former president to be allowed to travel abroad to meet his ailing mother.

Pakistan

Musharraf indicted for treason; pleads not guilty to all charges

Farooq

Apr 01, 2014 01:42am

Sir, please leave this country and enjoy your global respect. People here deserve leaders like Zardari, NS and Fazl ur Rehman.

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Asad

Apr 01, 2014 01:45am

Even though I have supported in many actions and still do but there is no doubt that he broke constitution of this country twice....I am happy that he is leaving this country rather he should have left long ago but I must say that law in this country is for the common man....

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Rahmat

Apr 01, 2014 02:05am

Now you know what the Saudi $ 1.5 Billion were meant for. Everything has a price in Pakistan including self profeesed "Principles".

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ahmad

Apr 01, 2014 02:09am

He is very likely to leave soon. His mother in critical condition is admitted to W.Wilson Hospital in Sharjah which is not a even a hospital, but a small polyclinic with Pakistani owners and management ...

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Ahmed

Apr 01, 2014 03:14am

Please close down is this circus and attend to real problems of people. Go after those fat cats who brought this country to its knees.

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Raja

Apr 01, 2014 03:23am

Pervez Musharraf was the Best General and the Best President of Pakistan ever. The Nation (excluding Nawaz party) solutes him.

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Ikram

Apr 01, 2014 03:35am

Has anyone else ever noticed that all dictators require serious medical attention once they are overthrown. While leading the country they have no medical issues, once ousted they live in a hospital! Strange.

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Masoodul Hameed

Apr 01, 2014 03:49am

Pakistanis have so much time, so much money, it doesn't matter how much of it goes down the drain, misusing it, by the government. Is there any accountability by any authority to question why the government plays such expensive games on the spur of the whim, which never produce anything but of course feed only the starving egos of the ruling elite? It is the government, not people, who are above the law in Pakistan! Funny country, funny people, but we do need them to keep us entertained.!

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Ganga Din

Apr 01, 2014 03:49am

"Musharraf

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abbas kd

Apr 01, 2014 04:05am

General Musharraf is our former head of the Army, & former head of state, as wrong as he might have been or what ever crimes he had committed in the past, he was no worst than George W. Bush & Tony Blair yet he had been treated much worst than those war criminals. We have to prove to the world that we Pakistanis are civilized people, show some respect to our former leader especially while he himself has medical issues & his very elderly mother as well. As a human being, he deserve to be with his ailing mother during the last few years of her life.

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Miz!!

Apr 01, 2014 04:12am

Well, a few days back, he couldn't travel from hospital to court (within same city) and now, he's requesting to be allowed to travel overseas! Great!

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Pakistan

Apr 01, 2014 04:33am

Long live Pervez Musharaf. May Allah SWT give him and his mother health and life.

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Commonsense

Apr 01, 2014 05:03am

Let the guy go. Instead all the politicians and other demagogues who support extremists should be tried for treason.

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K.A.Muhammad

Apr 01, 2014 05:04am

Pakistan as a Nation never had good friends, however, Presidents and Prime Ministers of Pakistan have always had good friends abroad who have proved worthy of friendship in times of need. Like Benazir Bhutto, Nawaz Shariff Shaukat Aziz etc, Parvez Musharaff also has "Friend in Need as a Friend in Deed". The script and the Dialogues are ready, the site or location has been selected, the set is also in place, it is now up to the director to call, "Silence, Lights, Sound and Action", and the film gets rolling. Produced by Land of Pure Production, they are working on Release Date, Countries etc. The film being a real life political drama, no publicity and or promotional activities will be followed. The film is titled as "Chal Ud-Ja-Rey Punchi.'

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munawar

Apr 01, 2014 05:17am

All Thugs and traitors like him must be executed and brought to justice

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Ramesh Manghirmalani

Apr 01, 2014 06:00am

Good riddance

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Tamza

Apr 01, 2014 06:09am

Now that he has been indicted, if he does not return to face trial, he will be a fugitive subject to interpol action. let him go. He can't travel to the SC because his heart is defective, but he is OK traveling to 'a Gulf country'.

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AbbasToronto

Apr 01, 2014 06:10am

So here is the plot. Musharraf leaves Pakistan but will be afraid to return, thus becoming an escapee from justice and a criminal. Nawaz saves face and gets what he wants - revenge after 15 years. Neat. Politicians always think like foxes and will outwit military any day.

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usman

Apr 01, 2014 06:13am

What a joke Pakistan has become in the world, people are laughing at us (first Liaqat Ali, ZA bhutto, Benazir, Zia ul Haq and now Musharraf), is there any leader of Pakistan who this country respects after losing power? The person who contributed the most towards the economy of Pakistan is being labeled a traitor while the person who is a plane hijacker has become the PM of the country. I remember when Musharraf took over there were only 325 million USD in forex reserves and when he left they were a staggering 20 billion (20,000 million USD). Dollar was at 63. While now as of January 2014 (after zardai and nawaz governments) forex reserves were at 7 billion only (7000 million USD). 20,000 million to 7000 million what a fall.

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Imran

Apr 01, 2014 06:45am

Rich and powerful can get away with any thing, weak and poor get punished what a joke this country has become.

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Amir Bangash@hotmail.com

Apr 01, 2014 07:00am

I don,t like foreigners posting comments on the internal disputes among Pakistanis. What I see is a lot of venom thrown by the Indians.

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Iqbal

Apr 01, 2014 07:13am

Mr. Musharraf served the country at an extremely crucial time , people who are jumping as patriots and liberals ,all got this liberation through Mr. Musharraf, lot of things can be said to support Mr. Musharraf ,however, for now I only pray may Allah save him from rain frogs, whatever wrong he did during his tenure he will be accountable to ALLAH like Nawaz Shareef / Zardari etc I feel a biased attitude towards him and the effort is not to punish a person but whole institution of respected Pak army, this biased attitude should also be named high treason.

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AJamal

Apr 01, 2014 07:33am

@usman: We do not hang criminals and terrorists. We keep them in jails awaiting their escapes through jailbreak. Rather we kill our leaders. Indeed world can't present such an example.

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AJamal

Apr 01, 2014 07:36am

@usman: Add to the forex reserves fall, record borrowing of Rs 8, 000 billion during tenure of AAZ.

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Mathew

Apr 01, 2014 07:45am

Most people in Pakistan forget that by siding with America General Parveez Musharraf saved Pakistan.If you don't believe me,see what America did in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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khurshid Khan

Apr 01, 2014 07:56am

Law is for the commoners in this country

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Ramesh.H

Apr 01, 2014 07:57am

I am an Indian, but i feel that Pervez Musharraf was one of the most effective ruler pakistan had. He was sharp, suave, patriotic with a lot of determination. ofcourse, the Pakistanis know better, it was just my opinion.

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Najamuddin

Apr 01, 2014 08:00am

@abbas kd: Do not forget that this most arrogant dictator and his coteries in power did not allow Nawaz Sharif or Shabaz Sharif even to attend funeral of their father and had deported Sharif back from Lahore Airport. Nawaz Sharif good or worst was also 2 times elected Prime Minister.

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Najamuddin

Apr 01, 2014 08:03am

@Raja: This best General of yours during prime of his dictatorship and his coteries in power did not allow Nawaz Sharif or Shabaz Sharif even to attend funeral of their father and had deported Sharif back from Lahore Airport. Nawaz Sharif good or worst was also 2 times elected Prime Minister.

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Jamil

Apr 01, 2014 08:16am

Pervez Musharif and nawaz sharif are madaris in this ckircus playing with innocent people.stop this noncence.

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Sajjad Ali Gopang

Apr 01, 2014 08:34am

whenever dictator has ruled this country, this country improved a lot. Don't you think we need such dictators? while if you say democracy is the best, yes this is best but the System we are in, this is not democracy where votes are bought and sold, where, there is rule of Landlords. So i think dictatorship is the best one for this country to Clean this corrupt system by appointing one Army man in every department.

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Riz

Apr 01, 2014 08:42am

Proves the point that law isnt the same if u are a general. Sharif's father died and he wasnt allowed to return for funeral on even HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS. & the commando begging to leave on same grounds, what a CHARACTER. And this country wasted millions on his character building & grooming. What a shame General Sahab!!

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Reader

Apr 01, 2014 08:54am

@Amir Bangash@hotmail.com: you don't like it then don't read it. Close the site and go away. This is a Public site and these comments are open to everyone.

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event horizon

Apr 01, 2014 08:55am

@Raja: Please exclude me too. I have nothing to do with Nawaz party.

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event horizon

Apr 01, 2014 08:57am

@Pakistan: .... and give someone the guts to try him for the murder of Akbar Bugti and assisting in murder of Benazir.

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event horizon

Apr 01, 2014 08:58am

@AbbasToronto: I miss the 'thumbs down'.

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Najamuddin

Apr 01, 2014 09:03am

@Amir Bangash@hotmail.com: The Indians or any foreigners had not murder Nawab Bugti and his people, they had not abducted and disappeared hundreds of citizens bread earners whose parents, wives, children and family members been helplessly lamenting for their missing love ones till now. The foreigners or Indians have not looted this ill fated Nation, many times in one case of corruption by billions, as such the top rulers and looters and their coteries becoming one of the richest of their Country, forcing majority of their people to financial break down, starvation and suicidal. The foreigners and Indians did not have access to sell out the sovereignty of our beloved Pakistan and pawn out their Nation even including the new born and to be born babies to built their empires, bank balances and looted wealth and properties within and abroad?

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M. Emad

Apr 01, 2014 09:11am

General flees the battlefield !

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Siddiqui

Apr 01, 2014 09:40am

@Najamuddin: my dear... Issues are more important than thinking that he did not allow Shahbaz shareef to attend the funeral of his father, Musharraf was the one who hold the situation after 9/11 otherwise India was all set to target Pakistan with America.

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Siddiqui

Apr 01, 2014 09:45am

@usman: Because Nawaz and Zardari has sucked all of Pakistan's reserves in their personal account. No one is asking that how their fortune has become triple in last 5-years whereas the overall economy of Pakistan is continuously falling. These two should be asked to declare their assets worldwide and sources from where they got funded.

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Arif

Apr 01, 2014 09:52am

Musharraf was and is a national hero. His opponents maybe loud and hogging on to the media mouth piece but his supporters are many but silent. I only voted for PTI as Musharraf was barred from contesting elections. I hope PTI realises that a large number of its voters are Musharaf sympathisers

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Mudasir

Apr 01, 2014 10:23am

Sir, please leave this country and enjoy your global respect. People here deserve leaders like Zardari, NS and Fazl ur Rehman. Yes you are right my brother

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Ertiza

Apr 01, 2014 10:26am

seriously ! its all the drama going on, just waste of time. Allah Help this nation and give our country more strength and TRUE LEADERS.

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Raza

Apr 01, 2014 10:38am

@usman: The level where musharraf left the foreign debt is now more than double at about 75 billion USD. Politicians and Geo, let the country sink but protect ur interests in the sacred names of constitution and independence. But dare not speak a word against terrorists. They kill those who oppose them unlike musharraf who gave them freedom despite the fact they used all foul means to bring him down. Justice will be done on day of justice not by rana iftikhar judiciary.

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M A Mujeeb

Apr 01, 2014 10:58am

@Najamuddin: It is wrong to say that Nawaz Shareef and his brother Shahbaz Shareef were not allowed by Musharraf to attend their father's funeral in Pakistan. Last night in a TV talk show Shaikh Rasheed, who was a minister at that time, confirmed that the Sharif brothers were allowed a week's time to return to Pakistan for the funeral but they refused as they wanted more time to stay in Pakistan which,of course, was not agreed by Musharraf Government.

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Shahid

Apr 01, 2014 11:03am

It is not mere speculation. The army would never had prsented him in the court if it was not because of a deal. Masses aren't fools any more as over the years, they have learned how it all works. A law for the elite and another law for the commoners, pakistan zindabad.

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Abbas kd

Apr 01, 2014 12:09pm

@Najamuddin: Musharraf most likely would not have over thrown Nawaz Sharif if his plane would have been allowed to land before it ran out of fuel. This vicious circle, somebody has to stop it.

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Ghost

Apr 01, 2014 12:17pm

Its time for Pervez Musharraf to go for a long Hajj like Nawaz Shariff .

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Ali

Apr 01, 2014 12:40pm

@usman: What about Mr. NS's $1.5 bn?? As per your logic, isn't that also a contribution by our present government? they are building up the reserves after all??

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solar

Apr 01, 2014 12:50pm

Better Go exile and make some DHAs there,where his supporters and Musharraf can live, we have enough of this Man,For army please stay in barrack and your duty is to defend country and not real estate business, Be mindful we have pay alot via taxes from our hard earned bread and butter, dont want you serve us anymore this way.No more missing persons,let us live please.

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Pakistani

Apr 01, 2014 01:05pm

@Farooq: You also go along. We also dont want people like you

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Mir

Apr 01, 2014 01:16pm

revenge,revenge Mush cannot go to see his ailing mother . Tit for tat.

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Aijaz

Apr 01, 2014 02:45pm

As expected.......Dictator and now an accused is leaving the country in shame.

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Maznah

Apr 01, 2014 03:40pm

This ex-general should be man enough to clear his name or take his punishment. He should not run away.

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Aijaz

Apr 01, 2014 03:46pm

Good to see, one refugee is finally leaving the country:))

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asif

Apr 01, 2014 04:19pm

@Farooq: spot on. we deserve these cronies

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M. Siddique

Apr 01, 2014 04:37pm

@Farooq: Sarcasm aside, what did Musharaf did for the country. The current power shortage is the result of his inability to build a single power plant when he was rulling the country. Pakistan has never been without a new power plant for such a long time. Dictators usually get the power plant processes move faster and get this done. Him and his coterie of generals decided to benefit themselves with the American aid provided due to war in Afghanistan. Sad, that people who sometime felt dictators at least deliver something, Musharaf disappointed everyone. Sure army high cadres got very rich. They are thes protecting him now.

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Seedoo

Apr 01, 2014 06:17pm

Not a single high profile terrorist has been prosecuted in Pakistan as of yet in the last 10 years of insurgency. This goes to show where our priorities are as a nation.

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Khan N

Apr 01, 2014 10:11pm

Commando bhag .....run Rambo run!

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Usman

Apr 02, 2014 08:07am

@abbas kd: Those other leaders did everything for their country's benefit even though it caused harm to other countries...Musharaf's actions only caused harm to Pakistan....if we don't hold our leaders and the powerful accountable then we will never move in the right direction

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Mohammad Afzal

Apr 02, 2014 08:20am

@Farooq: VERY APTLY said Mr. Farooq. This country only deserves corrupt political dynasties like AZ, NS and Fazl. God help our country..Ameen

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Muzaffar H. Qureshi

Apr 02, 2014 09:20am

Who is in the line of fire now?

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Ahmed Ali Khan

Apr 02, 2014 09:48am

@Najamuddin: Gen Musharraf has allowed the Sharif's family to come to Pakistan and they took the body to Saudi for burial. Also when NS son or somebody wants to go to NY they were also allowed as well. The sharif family went to saudia on a deal not to come to Pakistan on a ten year period. They came before 10yrs that is the reason they were sent back. Then again with an NRO deal they were allowed to come back before 10 years. So do not spread disinformation.

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Samiuddin

Apr 02, 2014 05:18pm

@Aijaz: When do you plan to leave?

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Agha Ata

Apr 02, 2014 06:11pm

Sharif might accept Musharraf's application to go out, but if he does go out he would still be fighting his treason cases. The statement given that he is free to move is shrouded with ambiguity. In any case IF Musharraf is exonerated, and IF he desires to go out, Sharif might let him go. Sharif knows that Musharraf is going to become a lot more popular after he is free. (That is the nature of Pakistanis to make him so after he is imprisoned and then let go free) Yes, Sharif would let him go if he promises to not to come back to Pakistan for the next 20 years or so. By doing so Sharif would be considered a compassionate leader, and at the same time he would be safer.

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Modi

Apr 02, 2014 10:38pm

I am not a supporter of Musharraf, because despite his proclamations he was a very poor and weak leader. He could have taken some strong steps, when he had the chance and the full support of the people, to reign in the Mullahs, clamp down on lawlessness and militancy, reduce the number of Madrassas , and to drastically revise the curriculum. But he blew the chance by grabbing and clinging to power and forgetting the Ataturk-like revolution that Pakistan needed and which he was supposed to usher in. Nevertheless I believe he was not a traitor and should be allowed to leave the country.

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Salma

Apr 03, 2014 01:54am

@Rahmat: 1.5 Billion$ is too expensive proposition for Musharaff, isnt it.

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goodDeedsLeadTo

Apr 03, 2014 03:08am

Rulers are corrupt, they have undisclosed family ownership, they have obtained huge loans, using their position in power, they have used disputed property, good lawyers, & court stay orders. They have been giving out public funds for investment to their friend. They do nepotism, give out huge budget & projects to family members. Musharraf has a son & a daughter, he never gave them a penny advantage to either of them. Musharraf got what every senior military officers get on retirement, after 25 years or more of service. He made his dollars from lecture circuit, also. When you become exponentially richer during the time of your rule, this is sufficient to prove the ruler or one in public office is corrupt. The corrupt rulers are the real traitors. The word traitor is derived from treasury. One who uses time in rule to become rich is corrupt, & what can you expect from corrupt people, why they should not take out their beef against Musharraf.

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Mohammed A. sukhera

Apr 03, 2014 03:34am

@K.A.Muhammad: We heard these rumors before and they happened to be untrue. You seem to have a lot of inside information , which we are not privy to. Let us wait and see,if your predictions are correct but I would not bet a dime on it. My guess is that Musharraf is not going anywhere except his farmhouse in Islamabad or the military hospital. His leagl team is spreading these rumors, they should focus on the defense strategy becuse charges are punishable by death. This will be a long drawn out case for him and a bonanza for his legal team.

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Ahmer

Apr 03, 2014 09:56am

Everyone is equal before the law. How many under trials will even ask to leave the country, let alone be permitted to leave. If he loves his mother, why doesn't he get her to Pakistan?

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Shaukat Chughtai

Apr 03, 2014 10:38am

@abbas kd: Musharaff was and is an asset to Pakistani establishment. Let us wait and see. Undoubtedly, a great leader, wished to bring moderation and was and is an obstacle for NS who wants to establish theocratic state.

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Akhter Husain

Apr 03, 2014 02:10pm

@K.A.Muhammad: The so called FRIENDS want to see him in the grave.Do not trust what they say try peep through there hearts and minds.The general is a spoiler of dreams of friends.

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gagan

Apr 03, 2014 06:30pm

@Amir Bangash@hotmail.com: Who cares what you like and do not like?

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gagan

Apr 03, 2014 06:31pm

@Mathew: But America went to the wrong places. They should go to Pakistan instead.

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pathanoo

Apr 03, 2014 08:25pm

It is NOT speculation but it is the "END GAME." There is no other choice for Nawaz but to let Musharraf go. He has milked this thing as far as it would go. Nawaz Sharif well knows that the BOYS would not allow their former Chief to go to prison. GUARANTEED.

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independentthinker

Apr 03, 2014 10:29pm

It could save the country millions of dollars - if Musharraf left Pakistan, which he will eventually end up doing! Why all this drama - when the end is already known?

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Iqbal Khan

Apr 03, 2014 11:59pm

why is that everytime someone threatens Pervez, he tries to run and hide somewhere? in 2008 he was threatened with impeachment from presidency and he quietly resigined and hide. Now he is threatened with trial, and he is doing the same.

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junaid Khan

Apr 04, 2014 03:10am

The great General Musahraff, should be tried for pardoning corrupt bureaucrats and politicians, 2000 of them through NRO .He betrayed the Aam Admi by royal pardons in the hope of bringing back country to democracy.As a General he failed to crush evil in Pakistan.He was too soft as a General to deal with corrupt and corruption and Lal Musjid.Those in G-5 think they are sending message to Army so that they can loot the country through rampant corruption, 35 punctures and through coneys as head of institutions are sadly mistaken.Surprises will generate if transparency not adopted Truth will prevail sooner or later.This is a smoldering Pakistan.

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