Musharraf seeks permission to offer condolences – in Saudi Arabia
62
ISLAMABAD: Former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf requested the government on Friday to allow him to visit Saudi Arabia to offer condolences to the Saudi royal family over King Shah Abdullah’s death.
In his plea, the former military ruler said he had maintained good relations with Abdullah, and the king’s demise had "saddened" him.
Saudi King Abdullah had passed away early on Friday (today).
The All Pakistan Muslim League’s (APML) spokesperson told Dawn that Musharraf has filed an application requesting the Interior Ministry to allow him to travel. The ministry has not responded to Musharraf’s request as yet.
Read: Saudi King Shah Abdullah dies; Salman becomes new king
Musharraf has been staying with his daughter in Karachi where he traveled for tests at a navy-run hospital in April last year. He has been banned from leaving the country as the government has put his name in the exit control list.
He had previously been kept under house arrest at his Chak Shehzad residence.
After returning from a self-imposed exiled in March 2013, Musharraf faced several serious charges. The most prominent among them was the imposition of emergency in the country in 2007 and murder of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti.
Recently an anti-terrorism court in Quetta has indicted him in the murder of the Baloch nationalist leader, for which the hearing would resume on daily basis from February 4.
He is on bail in four other major cases linked to his time in power, which also includes assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in a gun and suicide attack.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (62) Closed
Jan 23, 2015 08:59pm
That's a good one!
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 09:01pm
and few days before Mr:Musharaf was not even allowed to see his own mother .
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 09:04pm
Golden opportunity to leave the country forever
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 09:09pm
I like your approach. Keep the government at the defensive.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 09:22pm
Another Good opportunity to Run Away from Pakistan...
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 09:27pm
I think Musharraf and Nawaz should go hand in hand together and attend the funeral.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 09:31pm
Two faced government is holding Musharraf for what? Wasn't he doing the same offensive against the miscreants of Lal Masjid himself, which Nawaz Sharif and military is doing now.
Lets get the hypocrisy out of our system and acknowledge Musharraf as a sincere patriotic leader.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 09:33pm
My Leader
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 09:37pm
Test of Musharraf's patriotism.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 09:41pm
I dont think the government will allow that.
it just cant. it has to show it is strong and keep up with its record.
it entire existence is based on how wrong Musharraf was and how important it is to punish him and how Useful and fruitful it is for Pakistanis to have the House of Sherifs as their rightful Rulers.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 09:45pm
I am sure he will buy a one way ticket.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 09:47pm
Now that's really funny. I love this MAN!!!
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 09:52pm
Musharraf is a not a coward as Sharrif, He has integrity and will not let damage. he will be back to fight his cases to clear himself. PML_N and PPP leader are opportunists.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 09:55pm
As usual, a marketing gimmick by the ex-commando Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan at the wrong time.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 10:00pm
But he cant visit the court because of health reasons....yet can go to SA?
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 10:00pm
He wants to remind the new king about the promises made by the old king
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 10:06pm
He simply wants freedom. I don't think he wants to leave forever, doesn't worth it.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 10:10pm
love this man
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 10:10pm
Musharraf should be allowed to go to Saudi Arabia or wherever he wants to...it is not wise to keep the former head of state in detention...after all somebody has to take the first step to halt this game of political victimization...
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 10:18pm
Everyone is clamouring to pay homage to their 'mohsin'.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 10:19pm
Musharraf wanted to execute Nawaz Sharif, it was king Abdullah, stopped him from doing so.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 10:20pm
There was a time when Musharaff did not allow Nawaz to enter Pakistan. Now Nawaz is not allowing him to leave Pakistan. In a nutshell every system is corrupt be it judiciary,civilian govt or army.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 10:25pm
He must be allowed to go........with the condition that he returns in a fixed period of time.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 10:39pm
Really Musharaf?
Send chaudhry brothers on ur behalf
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 10:43pm
@Rakesh Kumar
No he will leave and come back again, trust me, if he is the man with honour and some dignity, unlike many in politics.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 10:51pm
Govt will always be in trouble, he is a super genius ;)
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 10:55pm
The Saudi Royal family have immense respect for Musharraf. He must go to offer condolences. He is a brave man and his mother is now in Pakistan so why must he go out for good. He is the pride of Pakistan and should be free to come and go. Period
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 10:59pm
Did he seek permission to visit Army Public School in Peshawar to offer his condolences there? Khawaja Saad Rafiq was 100% right
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 11:00pm
strategic condolences, not real one.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 11:06pm
Good move
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 11:13pm
I am 100% sure he will come back. If he really wanted to leave, there is nobody who can stop him. Trust me on that one.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 11:18pm
Should admire this man's resourceful ness. He does not miss a chance to drive his own agenda.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 11:20pm
Musharraf is flight risk, permission should be denied.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 11:31pm
And I want to go too.. everyone is going :(
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 11:32pm
He does not miss a beat when it comes to fleeing the country. First it was his ill health which only 'foreign doctors' can treat thus insulting the excellent doctors and health facilities that are available to his kind. Next it was his ailing mother who can not travel even in a special jet but needs her son for her to get well. Now it is the death of the Saudi king for whom he must pay respects in person. Meanwhile he is always ill to attend the court of law. Go figure!
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 11:44pm
If he goes he ain't coming back haha!
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 11:51pm
the general has conseded defeat, he now wants to pickup his tail and run away from the battle field. what a bravo, longlive the general.
Recommend
0
Jan 23, 2015 11:58pm
He should have been allowed to attend the funeral; could have flown with the PM as a courtesy to the former President.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 12:12am
What were you thinking, Mush, when you came back to Pakistan?
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 12:31am
The poor guy is missing Richmond Park and the mahafil e mausiqi and more.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 12:38am
Too sick to appear in Court to face charges, but healthy to travel out of Pakistan any time!
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 12:45am
Indeed Musharraf was and is a leader of International fame. He enjoyed global respect during his tenure and Kind Abdullah visited Pakistan in his time.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 01:24am
This guy may be a coward, but not a fool. He wants to grab this opportunity to try to get out of Dodge!
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 01:28am
Too unwell to attend court hearings but eager to travel to KSA ??? Seriously?
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 01:41am
Now this is called a clever tactical retreat.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 02:02am
And when it comes to appearing before the Anti- Terrorist Court , the ex-general is sick and under clinical care for heart ailment. Better, he should stay in bed as attending funeral ceremony might prove not good for his ailing health.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 02:41am
@allaisa - But he deserves his freedom. He has done nothing wrong compared to what the current lot are doing.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 02:47am
@Reality Bites precise and well said.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 02:48am
@Sunil ohh really
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 02:50am
@Sunil so you mean musharaff was doing right. right??
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 03:05am
@Harmony
A wrong is a wrong, why compare? Every time we change the yard stick to apply the law we will make the law less effective. If someone was lucky enough to sneak past the clutches of the law does not mean that everyone should be allowed to sneak past.
Yes he deserves his freedom but only after he has been cleared by the justice system.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 03:19am
He wil never run away, he is a man of honour.Actually he wil come back and earned more crediablity and make nawaz look very small.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 03:22am
He has lost his mind...if he ever had one!
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 03:26am
No matter how much I would like the two players to resolve their tug-of-war amicably, I think this is a joke too far! Musharraf ought to realize that his name is on the exit control list and that he will never be allowed to travel abroad unless he is cleared of all charges facing him. He sure is in need of a more sensible counsel!
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 03:32am
@Parvez he will never return, he won't make old mistake again.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 03:39am
He is trying to a pull fast one. He thinks Pakistani Govt. is stupid and can run away from legal troubles. He can go to Islamabad, to Saudi Embassy and write his condolences.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 04:47am
He is a true patriot. I would vote for him anytime.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 06:02am
Ha..Ha.. here he goes again, doesn't waste any opportunity.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 06:09am
Mr Mushrraf, you're not head of the state.It's hard, but accept the ground realities
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 09:29am
@Chanakya I think it's you who accept the ground reality not Mr. Musharraf. King Abdullah was very close to Musharraf than to Nawaz , that why king gave him a chartered plane with crew to use whenever he wants to travel around the world . It was after 2008 when Musharraf was not even head of state . That's why he wants to go for his friend's funeral who happened to be the king.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 09:30am
@Chanakya I think it's you who accept the ground reality not Mr. Musharraf. King Abdullah was very close to Musharraf than to Nawaz , that why king gave him a chartered plane with crew to use whenever he wants to travel around the world . It was after 2008 when Musharraf was not even head of state . That's why he wants to go for his friend's funeral who happened to be the king.
Recommend
0
Jan 24, 2015 10:03am
Long live Pervez Musharraf.
Recommend
0
