Pervez Musharraf to return to Pakistan in April?

Pervez Musharraf, former Pakistan military ruler, is likely to return to the country from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in April, sources said.

"Former president (Retd) General Pervez Musharraf would return to Pakistan next month," Iqbal Dar, secretary general of the Pakistan Awami Ittehad (PAI), was quoted as saying by the 'Dawn'.

Musharraf, who has been living in Dubai since 2017, has to appear before a special Pakistani court in a high treason case. 

The 74-year-old retired General was indicted in March 2014 on treason charges. And he has been declared "proclaimed offender" by courts in the treason and the Benazir Bhutto assassination cases.

Musharraf imposed emergency in the country, which led to the sacking of over 100 judges and confinement of Supreme Court judges in their houses.

The former president, however, was permitted to leave Pakistan on the pretext of medical treatment.

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He had sought adequate security from the government for his return and his lawyer had moved a petition to the Interior Ministry, stating that the former president faced security threats.

The ministry, in its response, had sought the details of Musharraf's travel itinerary and his stay in Pakistan so that necessary fool proof security arrangements can be made for him well in time.

On March 16, the special court hearing the treason case against him authorised the government to suspend his passport as well as his computerised national identity card.

The court had also directed the Interior Ministry to approach the Interpol for the arrest of the former president.

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PAI is a coalition of 23 political and religious parties led by the former General, and Musharraf ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008.

(With inputs from agencies)