Journalism of Courage
Embattled former president Pervez Musharraf cannot leave Pakistan as his name still figures on on the Exit Control List,Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said.
Nisar Saturday said that Federal Investigation Agency has been directed to accelerate probe into the treason case against Musharraf and present the report as soon as possible. He said 70-year-old Musharrafs name was on Exit Control List and it would not be removed till a court decided on it.
Musharraf is currently seeking a bail in Lal Masjid case after being granted bail in three other cases and his lawyer said on Wednesday he was cleared to leave the country. The former military ruler was earlier granted bail in three other cases registered against him for the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto,the murder of Baloch leader Akbar Bugti and the imposition of emergency in 2007.
This had given rise to speculation about his possible release after nearly six months of house arrest but he was subsequently arrested for the killing of the Lal Masjid cleric.
Musharraf,who was then army chief and President,had ordered the crackdown on the Lal Masjid in 2007. About 100 people,most of them extremists,were killed in the operation. Nisars remarks came on the anniversary of a Musharraf-led coup that overthrew Nawaz Sharif on October 12,1999. Musharraf ruled as President until he resigned when he was threatened with impeachment in 2008. He then went into self-imposed exile and returned to Pakistan in March in a bid to resurrect his political career.
The Supreme Court on July 3 had disposed of pleas calling for registration of a treason case against him and directed the government to continue approaching the matter in light of its statement presented to the court.
