Pakistan’s former military ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has refused an offer from the authorities to return to life in exile, political sources said.
“Pervez Musharraf was offered exile which he has refused saying he will fight cases against him,” a source close to the decision-makers said. Mr Musharraf returned to Pakistan last month to end five years of self-imposed exile. On his return Mr Musharraf found he might have made a mistake as he did not receive a big welcome and later was dragged from one court to the other and finally arrested and detained in his Islamabad farmhouse which has been declared a sub-jail. Mr Musharraf, who formed the All-Pakistan Muslim League to contest the May 11 elections, has also had all his four nomination papers rejected.
“Musharraf was offered exile in the garb of seeing his ailing 95-year-old mother in Dubai,” said the source.
“Some international leaders conveyed to Pervez Musharraf that he should go back into exile keeping in view the hostile media and judiciary in Pakistan. They also asked him to file a plea in court seeking bail to see his ailing mother. But Musharraf has refused and told his well-wishers that he would not leave Pakistan until he was freed by the courts in all cases,” the source said.
“Musharraf told the interlocutors that it was none other than his ailing mother who had directed him to go to Pakistan and get himself cleared of all charges. He said his mother had told him that Pakistan was his country and he should live and die there,” added the source.
“He strongly believes the courts will give him justice but we know this is not going to happen,” the source added.