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| Facing Arrest, Musharraf Flees Courtroom in Pakistan | Facing Arrest, Musharraf Flees Courtroom in Pakistan |
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| ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – The former military ruler of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, fled a courtroom in the capital on Thursday, making a dramatic escape after a judge revoked his bail over a case dating to his nine years in power. | ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – The former military ruler of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, fled a courtroom in the capital on Thursday, making a dramatic escape after a judge revoked his bail over a case dating to his nine years in power. |
| Television footage showed Mr. Musharraf being jostled as his security detail pushed through the court precinct following the hearing, then quickly driving away in a convoy of SUVs as angry lawyers chased behind. | Television footage showed Mr. Musharraf being jostled as his security detail pushed through the court precinct following the hearing, then quickly driving away in a convoy of SUVs as angry lawyers chased behind. |
| The escape was the latest twist in Mr. Musharraf’s quixotic bid to return to Pakistani politics. It was the first time in Pakistan’s history that a former army chief faced potential imprisonment, which analysts said could open a new rift between the courts and the military. | The escape was the latest twist in Mr. Musharraf’s quixotic bid to return to Pakistani politics. It was the first time in Pakistan’s history that a former army chief faced potential imprisonment, which analysts said could open a new rift between the courts and the military. |
| After fleeing Thursday, Mr. Musharraf drove to his luxury farmhouse on the outskirts of the capital, where he has been living since returning from exile last month, and which is protected by retired commandos and soldiers still in the armed forces. | After fleeing Thursday, Mr. Musharraf drove to his luxury farmhouse on the outskirts of the capital, where he has been living since returning from exile last month, and which is protected by retired commandos and soldiers still in the armed forces. |
| At the hearing, the court refused to extend Mr. Musharraf’s bail in relation to his controversial decision to sack and imprison the country’s top judges when he imposed emergency rule in November 2007. | At the hearing, the court refused to extend Mr. Musharraf’s bail in relation to his controversial decision to sack and imprison the country’s top judges when he imposed emergency rule in November 2007. |
| Amid the confusion it was not immediately clear whether the court had issued an arrest warrant for the former military ruler, who came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999. | Amid the confusion it was not immediately clear whether the court had issued an arrest warrant for the former military ruler, who came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999. |
| “It sometimes happens that when a person does not get a bail, he just slips away and later approaches the higher courts,” said Tariq Mehmood, a retired judge. | “It sometimes happens that when a person does not get a bail, he just slips away and later approaches the higher courts,” said Tariq Mehmood, a retired judge. |
| In a statement, a spokesman for Musharraf’s party said that the court decision was “seemingly motivated by personal vendettas” and warned that it could "result in unnecessary tension amongst the various pillars of State and possibly destabilize the country.” | |
| At the Islamabad farmhouse where Mr. Musharraf fled, Muhammad Amjad Chaudhry, a senior official with Mr. Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League, said that lawyers would file an appeal in the Supreme Court later Thursday. | At the Islamabad farmhouse where Mr. Musharraf fled, Muhammad Amjad Chaudhry, a senior official with Mr. Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League, said that lawyers would file an appeal in the Supreme Court later Thursday. |
| The lawyers will seek to have the former military ruler placed under house arrest at the farmhouse, he said. | The lawyers will seek to have the former military ruler placed under house arrest at the farmhouse, he said. |
| The court drama marks the low point of a troubled homecoming for Mr. Musharraf, who had vowed to “take the country out of darkness” after returning from four years of self-imposed exile last month. | The court drama marks the low point of a troubled homecoming for Mr. Musharraf, who had vowed to “take the country out of darkness” after returning from four years of self-imposed exile last month. |
| He faces potential court prosecution in three cases dating to his time in power – the sacking of the judges and the deaths of Benazir Bhutto and Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a Baloch tribal leader. Attempts by some critics to charge him with treason have not succeeded. | He faces potential court prosecution in three cases dating to his time in power – the sacking of the judges and the deaths of Benazir Bhutto and Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a Baloch tribal leader. Attempts by some critics to charge him with treason have not succeeded. |
| On Tuesday the national election commission disqualified him from running in the general election for Parliament scheduled for May 11. Mr. Musharraf had hoped to run for seats in four constituencies across the country. | |
| Last week he stoked controversy when, in an interview with CNN, he admitted to having authorized American drone strikes in the tribal belt – a statement that contradicted years of denials of complicity in the drone program, and which was considered politically disastrous in a country where the drones are widely despised. | Last week he stoked controversy when, in an interview with CNN, he admitted to having authorized American drone strikes in the tribal belt – a statement that contradicted years of denials of complicity in the drone program, and which was considered politically disastrous in a country where the drones are widely despised. |
| While Mr. Musharraf obtained bail in the murder cases, on Thursday Judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui refused to extend his bail in relation to the case involving the dismissal of the judges. | While Mr. Musharraf obtained bail in the murder cases, on Thursday Judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui refused to extend his bail in relation to the case involving the dismissal of the judges. |
| Human Rights Watch said that Mr. Musharraf’s flight from the court “underscores his disregard for due legal process” and called on the military to ensure that he presents himself for arrest. | Human Rights Watch said that Mr. Musharraf’s flight from the court “underscores his disregard for due legal process” and called on the military to ensure that he presents himself for arrest. |
| “Continued military protection for General Musharraf will make a mockery of claims that Pakistan’s armed forces support the rule of law,” said Ali Dayan Hasan, Pakistan director at the rights group. | “Continued military protection for General Musharraf will make a mockery of claims that Pakistan’s armed forces support the rule of law,” said Ali Dayan Hasan, Pakistan director at the rights group. |
| Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf, a senior party official, said Mr. Musharraf was meeting with lawyers and party colleagues inside his farmhouse. “We will face the situation,” he said. | Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf, a senior party official, said Mr. Musharraf was meeting with lawyers and party colleagues inside his farmhouse. “We will face the situation,” he said. |
Salman Masood contributed reporting. | Salman Masood contributed reporting. |