Islamabad, March 30 (IANS) Pakistan Saturday stopped former president Pervez Musharraf from leaving the country a day after a court ordered it.
The interior ministry issued directives to the immigration authorities to put Musharraf’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL), reported Xinhua, citing Radio Pakistan.
It also sent a notification to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), which deals with the immigration affairs at the airports.
Musharraf returned to Pakistan after over a four year self-exile and is now facing several cases including his government’s failure to provide security to former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who was killed in a suicide attack in 2007.
A court in Karachi extended his protective bail on plea by his defence lawyers that the former military ruler is contesting elections. However, he was restrained from leaving the country without the court’s permission.
Musharraf is now leading his own political party – the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), and will contest the May 11 general elections.
The APML Friday submitted his nomination forms for a national assembly seat in the northern Chitral district.
Musharraf also plans to stand on more than one seat including one in Karachi.
He will have to face strong opposition from his political rivals during scrutiny of nomination papers as he is facing charges in several high profile cases in which he has got temporary bail.
Taliban have also publicly threatened Musharraf as he had carried out military operations against them in the tribal regions and the northwestern Swat valley.
Musharraf’s policies, particularly joining the US-led coalition and giving Pakistani military bases to the American forces for attacks against the Afghan Taliban, had been highly controversial.
He ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008 and went into exile after his resignation in August 2008.
Musharraf’s party said that he plans to come to Islamabad soon.
The authorities have sealed his personal house in Islamabad after an anti-terrorism court had issued his arrest warrant for his failure to appear before it in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case.
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