LAHORE, Jan 19: Former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf may delay his homecoming after his friends in the army and political circles have advised him against doing so because of political instability in Pakistan. However, he has yet to take a final decision.

His friends in the armed forces have also told Mr Musharraf that he may not be provided foolproof security on his return to the country, asking the former president to review his future plans.

During his address to a party rally in Karachi via a video link, the All Pakistan Muslim League president had announced that he would return between Jan 27 and Jan 30 and take part in the next general election. “Gen Musharraf has not yet taken a decision to delay his homecoming. However, he has been advised by some of his friends in the army and political circles to give a second thought to his plans because of the current political situation in the country,” Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif, spokesman for the APML, told Dawn on Thursday.

“At present Gen Musharraf sticks to his return plan and any change to it will be announced by the APML chief himself,” he added.

Gen Musharraf’s friends are of the opinion that court proceedings against him may be initiated under Article 6 of the Constitution in the National Reconciliation Ordinance case when he returns.

“There has been a soft corner for him in the armed forces and they do not want to see Gen Musharraf facing the cases after his return,” Mr Saif said.

He said there were reports that the PPP government would try to divert people’s attention from the NRO implementation case and put the judiciary’s focus on Gen Musharraf. That was why his well-wishers wanted him to delay his homecoming, he added.

Another APML leader said the army had apprehensions on his return because it will be an embarrassing for it to see Mr Musharraf behind bars, besides his media trial. He said Gen Musharraf had been conveyed a message in this regard by the quarters concerned.

Gen Musharraf has hired the services of a private security agency, but he has been under mounting pressure to delay his plan after having failed to get any assurance from the army and the government.

“Hiring a foreign security agency is not a big deal. Foolproof security arrangements by the government matter more,” APML’s former secretary-general Fawad Chaudhry said.

He was of the opinion that Gen Musharraf should not come at this juncture because it would benefit his opponents.

Meanwhile, Gen Musharraf has called his senior party members in Dubai on Jan 24 to chalk out a future course of action.

“Gen Musharraf will preside over a party meeting in Dubai on Jan 25 where a final strategy about his homecoming will be finalised,” Barrister Saif said.