Reuters: Wednesday, April 17
Islamabad:
Pakistan's police have reached General Pervez Musharraf's farmhouse on the outskirts of Islamabad. Dozens of riot police carrying shields and batons massed outside the villa, but made no move to take the 69-year-old into custody.
It remains unclear if and when he could be detained.
This morning, the Islamabad High Court cancelled his bail in a case related to the dismissal of judges when he was Pakistan's president.
As soon as the court ordered his arrest, the former military ruler walked out of the High Court, jumped into his waiting black SUV and sped off to his villa, protected by barbed wire and armed police. He faced no resistance from scores of law enforcement agents as he left the court.
His office denied media reports that he had "fled" the courthouse to evade arrest. "Musharraf did not flee the court. Actually there was no police official to arrest him and nobody tried to arrest him," a spokesman said.
General Musharraf will appeal against the High Court order in the Supreme Court tomorrow. A spokesman for his All Pakistan Muslim League told AFP that if the Supreme Court upholds the order, then he is expected to be put under house arrest. He described the retired general as "composed and confident".
The Supreme Court is already hearing a separate petition from lawyers demanding that General Musharraf face trial for treason for subverting the constitution by imposing emergency. Treason is punishable by death or life in prison in Pakistan.
General Musharraf is also accused of conspiracy to murder opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in 2007 and over the death of a rebel leader during a military operation in 2006.
Earlier this week, he was disqualified from running for parliament on all four seats that he had sought to contest, ending his hopes of a political comeback. Pakistan will vote on May 11.
It remains unclear if and when he could be detained.
This morning, the Islamabad High Court cancelled his bail in a case related to the dismissal of judges when he was Pakistan's president.
As soon as the court ordered his arrest, the former military ruler walked out of the High Court, jumped into his waiting black SUV and sped off to his villa, protected by barbed wire and armed police. He faced no resistance from scores of law enforcement agents as he left the court.
His office denied media reports that he had "fled" the courthouse to evade arrest. "Musharraf did not flee the court. Actually there was no police official to arrest him and nobody tried to arrest him," a spokesman said.
General Musharraf will appeal against the High Court order in the Supreme Court tomorrow. A spokesman for his All Pakistan Muslim League told AFP that if the Supreme Court upholds the order, then he is expected to be put under house arrest. He described the retired general as "composed and confident".
The Supreme Court is already hearing a separate petition from lawyers demanding that General Musharraf face trial for treason for subverting the constitution by imposing emergency. Treason is punishable by death or life in prison in Pakistan.
General Musharraf is also accused of conspiracy to murder opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in 2007 and over the death of a rebel leader during a military operation in 2006.
Earlier this week, he was disqualified from running for parliament on all four seats that he had sought to contest, ending his hopes of a political comeback. Pakistan will vote on May 11.
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