Pakistan govt lifts foreign travel ban on Musharraf
Pakistan on Thursday lifted a foreign travel ban on Pervez Musharraf , paving the way for the former military ruler’s departure from the country.
Pakistan on Thursday lifted a foreign travel ban on Pervez Musharraf , paving the way for the former military ruler’s departure from the country.
Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told a news conference the government was removing Musharraf’s name from the Exit Control List, which includes all persons barred from travelling abroad, on medical grounds.
“This is a one-time permission for the former president,” said Khan.
“Today we received a formal application from the lawyers of General Musharraf and have formally granted approval to him to travel abroad.”
The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the government’s two-year-old appeal against the Sindh high court’s decision to remove Musharraf’s name from the ECL.
“Omitting the former president’s name is a decision taken by the Supreme Court,” Khan said.
Musharraf’s lawyers have given a commitment that he will return in four to six weeks to face the legal course of law and ongoing cases against him.
“The verdict was apparently issued on humanitarian grounds after his (Musharraf’s) lawyers presented a medical report while also keeping legal aspects in consideration,” Khan said.
Musharraf has faced a raft of civil and criminal cases since he returned to Pakistan from self-exile in 2013. He has been charged with treason for imposing emergency in 2007.