Islamabad: As Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday rejected former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s request to lift the travel ban, the ex-dictator moved the Supreme Court to challenge the premier’s decision.
Advocate Shah Khawar submitted the application in the apex court on behalf of Mr Musharraf. The petitioner pleaded to the court that the former military ruler’s mother was ill therefore he should be allowed to travel overseas to visit her.
“The interior ministry on Wednesday conveyed to Pervez Musharraf that his name will remain on the Exit Control List (ECL)”, said a senior government official.
The former military ruler had filed the application with the interior ministry after the special court, hearing treason case against him, said the government had the authority to allow him to travel abroad.
“Some officials met Pervez Musharraf’s staff at the AFIC (Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology) and handed them a letter containing the government’s decision”, said the official.
Mr Musharraf had toppled Mr Sharif’s previous government in 1999.
On Thursday, Pakistani interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that Pervez Mush-arraf drove the country into war to remain in power.
Mr Musharraf wants to exit the country on the pretext of visiting his sick mother.
