Sighting of Musharraf at Asia Cup game sets social media alight
As the new prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan has left his cricketing days far behind him. But for the country’s former president, Pervez Musharraf, the chance to watch his country play India in the Asia Cup was irresistible.
His appearance at Dubai International Stadium, smoking a cigar and wearing a well-cut blue blazer, provoked hundreds of comments on social media.
It was a reminder that the former president, who resigned 10 years ago and now lives in Dubai in self-imposed exile, remains a polarising figure in his home country.
Many were supportive, calling him a man who “saved Pakistan through his wisdom”, someone “who has saved this country” and “not a traitor but a patriot”.
In the other camp were those who regard Mr Musharraf as a fugitive from justice, accusing him of corruption, breaches of the constitution, even murder.
Mr Musharraf, who runs his private office from Dubai and has more than two million Twitter followers, stayed silent on the debate over his appearance at the cricket match, and the result, a nine-wicket win for India.
His most recent comment on Twitter was to offer condolences to the family of John McCain last month, calling the veteran US senator “honourable, reasonable and objective”.
The former president was seen sitting with Indian officials at the game in a photograph shared on social media by Rajeev Shukla, chairman of the Indian Premier League. The post received more than 350 retweets and 1,300 likes.
The image also reopened fault lines for Pakistanis at home and abroad about the legacy of the Musharraf years.
Regarded as a key ally of the West in the war on terror, he resigned in August 2008, forced out by the ruling coalition, and faced impeachment.
Mr Musharraf has long proclaimed his innocence against charges that he flouted the constitution by ordering the arrest of judges in 2007, and more seriously, allegations that he was involved in the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
He claims the allegations are politically motivated.
After leaving for exile in London, he returned to Pakistan in 2013 for the general election, where he was disqualified as a candidate and faced death threats from extremists including the Taliban.
Later that year, he was placed under house arrest in connection with the Bhutto murder but granted bail, and in 2016 was given permission to travel abroad after saying he needed medical treatment in Dubai, where he now lives.
Last month, Interpol rejected a request from Pakistan for his arrest on treason charges, saying the organisation did not involve itself in political cases.
Mr Musharraf says he is ready to return home to make a statement to the court to help clear his name, but is adamant on conditions including watertight security and the unfreezing of assets.
His lawyers say that while he owns a property in Dubai, he has no home in Pakistan.
With the Pakistan Supreme Court pressing for a timeframe for Mr Musharraf’s return, the case continues.