Musharraf to discuss future role with aides in Dubai: report

According to sources,Musharraf,who ruled the country for over eight years from 1999,has summoned his close political aides to Dubai. “Musharraf held a meeting in London with a group of Nazims (top officials) and discussed with them his future political ambitions as his two-year ban on political activities will expire in November this year,” the News said.

The 66-year-old former Pakistan strongman was facing legal trouble following the Supreme Court declaring the 2007 emergency imposed by him as unconstitutional.

Soon after the apex court order of late last month,a local court ordered police to book Musharraf for illegally detaining scores of judges and lawyers during the emergency.

The case has raised the possibility of Musharraf facing arrest on his return to the country.

The sources told the News that Secretary General of the PML-Q Humayun Akhtar Khan also held a meeting with Musharraf in London. However,sources close to Akhtar denied any meeting and said he was in London on a family trip.

The paper cited sources to say that a meeting took place n which Tariq Aziz,a close confidant of Musharraf,was also present. It also claimed that two factions were operating within PML-Q — one pinning its hopes on Musharraf and the other seeking unification with the PML-N.

The PML-Q,which was in power in Pakistan during the regime of the ex-military ruler,was considered as pro-Musharraf. It was ousted in the 2008 general elections.

The sources said a group of non-political friends of the former president advised him to stay away from politics for the time being,saying at present there was no place in politics for him in Pakistan.

On Sunday,Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani acknowledged that there were differences between the PPP and the PML-N on the issue of trying Musharraf for treason,a demand that has been persistently raised by the Nawaz Sharif-led party.

“Nothing has been decided as yet… The matter of Musharraf’s trial under Article 6 of the constitution (for treason) has not ended yet,” Gilani had said.

He also sought to dispel the impression that his relations with the PML-N had turned sour after he announced that proceedings for Musharraf’s trial will be initiated by his government only if parliament passes a unanimous resolution seeking the trial.

Observers believe there is a tacit understanding between the PPP and the powerful army that Musharraf will not be tried after he resigned a year ago to avoid impeachment.