Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf appears to be testing the waters following signals from the Supreme Court that his disqualification from holding public office is not yet a foregone conclusion.

He has submitted nomination papers to contest the upcoming general elections from a National Assembly constituency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Chitral district. His papers for NA-1 Chitral were handed in to the returning officer in the area by his lawyer, who was also accompanied by party leaders.

The absconding general-turned-politician is popular in Chitral, with his party having won one seat to the National Assembly and one to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assembly from that area in 2013.

Nonetheless, the fate of his candidacy hangs in the balance, as the Supreme Court has made it clear that the acceptance of his nomination papers is conditional upon him appearing before the apex court by June 13 for a court hearing.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has issued orders to suspend arrest warrants outstanding against the ex-dictator and to unblock his travel and identity documents so that he has no excuse not to return.