ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s ex-military leader Pervez Musharraf was granted bail yesterday in a second case relating to his nine-year rule, bringing closer his possible release after nearly two months of house arrest.
The retired general, who returned from four years of self-imposed exile in March, is officially barred from leaving the country and has been detained at his villa on the edge of Islamabad since April 19.
Last month, he won bail over charges that he conspired to murder former premier Benazir Bhutto, and on yesterday for his dismissal of judges and imposition of emergency rule in 2007.
Musharraf’s lawyer Ilyas Siddiqui said that bail had been posted at one million rupees ($ 10,000) and that his defense team would seek bail in a third case dating back to his 1999-2008 rule.
Yesterday’s decision is likely to fuel speculation that a deal could be reached to allow Musharraf to leave Pakistan without facing the courts.
“The court has accepted his bail application. He has been asked to furnish surety bonds,” said Mohammad Amjad, spokesman for Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) party, which won two seats in last month’s election.
Amjad said the bail order would end Musharraf’s house arrest, although the former leader is also wanted over the 2006 death of a Baluch rebel leader.
Aides say a court in the southwestern city of Quetta has issued orders for Musharraf’s arrest over the 2006 death of Akbar Bugti, but that his team will apply for pre-arrest bail in the final case.
They also say they will petition Pakistan’s highest court to have his name removed from the exit control list, which would allow him to leave the country.
“He cannot leave the country until the Supreme Court orders to remove his name from the ECL. Only then he can leave the country,” said Amjad.
Indian planes violate airspace
The Pakistani Air Force said two Indian aircraft violated Pakistan’s airspace yesterday, and that it scrambled two fighter jets to “challenge the intruders.” The Indian Air Force said its planes appeared to have committed a “technical violation.” Pakistan and India are nuclear-armed archrivals, and such airspace intrusions have happened on occasion in the past. The two countries have fought three major wars since their partition in 1947, but have taken steps to improve relations in recent years.
The Pakistani statement said yesterday’s incident occurred around 10:40 a.m. along the eastern border with India. In their statement, the Pakistanis say that after they scrambled their jets, the Indian aircraft exited the airspace after having stayed inside it for about two minutes.
Taleban claim attack
The Pakistani Taleban are claiming responsibility for an attack on NATO supply trucks that killed four people in the country’s northwest.
Around 15 militants on Monday fired rockets at the trucks as they traveled in the Khyber tribal region on their way to Afghanistan. Because of such attacks, the US has for years been reducing its use of Pakistani land routes to get supplies to troops in Afghanistan.
Late Monday, Pakistani Taleban spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan said more such attacks were planned.
He also warned the new government in Pakistan’s northwestern province to close the supply route.
The ruling party there is that of former cricket star Imran Khan, and it adamantly opposes US drone strikes in Pakistan. It has hinted at preventing the NATO supply trucks from crossing its territory.
