LAHORE: Former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf is ready to give an undertaking that he will return to Pakistan if the government allows him to travel to Saudi Arabia to condole with the royal family over the death of King Abdullah.

The name of former military dictator is on exit control list (ECL) in connection with the treason trial he faced.

“To remove the government’s apprehension, Mr Musharraf can give an undertaking that he will return to the country after meeting with the royal family of Saudi Arabia,” a source in the Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League told Dawn.

Also read: Govt may let Musharraf fly to S. Arabia

He said Mr Musharraf was a brave man and unlike some other politicians he did not need to leave the country on one pretext or the other.

A PML-N senior leader told Dawn that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had reviewed the ‘request’ of Mr Musharraf to allow him to travel to Saudi Arabia to condole with the royal family over the death of King Abdullah. “The prime minister has sought legal opinion on the matter and probably the government may dispose it of early this week,” he said.

He said the government could allow Musharraf to visit Saudi Arabia after taking ‘some persons’ into confidence or throw the ball in the court of the apex court. “It may not reflect well on the Nawaz government if it does not entertain Mr Musharraf’s request,” he said.

Mr Musharraf had sought permission last year to travel abroad to see his ailing mother but his request was rejected. “But this case is different,” the PML-N leader said.

Retired Maj-Gen Rashid Qureshi, spokesman for Gen Musharraf, told Dawn, “Mr Musharraf has cordial relations with the Saudi royals. He was the only Pakistani leader who was accorded with unprecedented welcome in Saudi Arabia. He called azan on the roof of Kaaba,” he said.

Mr Qureshi further said the government should show magnanimity and remove Mr Musharraf’s name from the ECL. “The government should not hide behind any ‘legal cover’ and allow Mr Musharraf to proceed to Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Advocate Fawad Chaudhry told Dawn that it was prerogative of the government to remove the name of Mr Musharraf from the ECL and not of the court. “The court earlier had directed the government to decide the ECL issue itself. However, if the government decides against allowing Mr Musharraf to go Saudi Arabia it will ask him to move the court,” he said.

Mr Chaudhry further said there had been no “legal hitch” in allowing Mr Musharraf to proceed to Jeddah as the treason case against him had been adjourned for an indefinite period.

Published in Dawn January 26th , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play