Pakistan Supreme Court directs authorities to unblock Musharraf’s passport, identity card
Chief Justice issued an order that a tribunal should be formed within two days to conduct the treason trial against Pervez Musharraf.
Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday paved the way for former dictator Pervez Musharraf’s return from self-exile by directing authorities to unblock his national identity card (NIC) and passport.
The order was issued after National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) chairman Usman Mobin was asked by the Chief Justice Saqib Nisar to unblock the documents.
The interior ministry had earlier directed NADRA and the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports to suspend Musharraf's NIC and passport in line with an order from a special court conducting a treason trial against the former president.
"Why would you block the card? To give him a reason to not return?" the chief justice asked Mobin. "Musharraf should return and face the cases against him.”
When Mobin made a request seeking formal directives about what must be done about Musharraf's documents, the chief justice ordered that his NIC and passport be unblocked.
Nisar also reiterated his earlier order that Musharraf should not be arrested on his way to court from the airport. He also issued an order that a tribunal should be formed within two days to conduct the treason trial against Musharraf.