Daily Times

A conditional permission extended by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar to former dictator Pervaiz Musharraf to file nomination papers for the upcoming general election stood withdrawn on Thursday after the latter failed to appear before the court by the 2pm deadline.

Earlier, Musharraf’s counsel told the court that he wanted to return to the country but could not, owing to the prevalent situation and Eid holidays.

The court was hearing the former army chief’s petition filed in 2015 against the rejection of his nomination papers in the 2013 general election.

As the hearing began, the CJP inquired about Musharraf’s intention to appear before the court. “Find out if Musharraf will appear before court or not,” the chief justice ordered the deputy attorney general, adding that an update regarding the former president’s appearance should be submitted in court at the earliest.

He said the court was willing to wait if Musharraf’s appearance could be ascertained.

A day earlier, the apex court had directed Musharraf to return to the country by 2pm on Thursday. In a statement issued after the court directive, the All Pakistan Muslim League’s (APML) secretary-general Dr Amjad said the former president was unlikely to return to the country on Thursday. He cited ‘difficulties in purchasing tickets back home’ as the reason.

Reportedly, Musharraf’s passport also remained unblocked.

Dr Amjad maintained that Musharraf was trying to get new dates from the courts. In an earlier statement, the APML leaders said that their leader’s travel preparations were in the final stage. “We are reviewing the flight schedules,” they said.

On June 7, the Supreme Court had ordered the former president to appear before it and gave him assurances that he would not be arrested upon his return to the country. The CJP said that he would pass an order ensuring authorities do not arrest Musharraf before his appearance in court.

“He [Musharraf] should come [to the court] if he is a commando. Like politicians, he should not keep claiming he will return,” the CJP said in a hearing later.

The chief justice had held that the scrutiny of Musharraf’s nomination papers for the upcoming general election would not be allowed if he failed to return to Pakistan.

Published in Daily Times, June 15^th 2018.