Chief justice says no arrest for Musharraf on his return

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar yesterday said former president and strongman Pervez Musharraf will not be arrested on his return to the country and will be provided with the best security by the country’s Rangers unit.

Nisar said this while chairing a three-member bench hearing a case related to the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) passed by Musharraf in 2007.

“We are granting Musharraf protective bail and [until] his return, we will continue issuing his red warrants,” the chief justice said.

During the course of proceedings, Akhtar Shah, counsel for the former president, told the court that he had talked to his client on September 27.

“Musharraf has medical and security issues but he has promised that he will return,” Shah added.

Shah informed the bench that his client was suffering from an ailment of a serious nature, quoting a statement by his client informing the court that “I am also suffering from a painful backache.”

The chief justice responded saying: “We have arrangements for topof-the-line treatment for Musharraf’s ailment here.”

Justice Nisar adjourned the hearing to October 11.