Musharraf's valour under court cloud

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday asked former president general (retired) Pervez Musharraf to present himself in court by Thursday afternoon and questioned as to how an army commando can be so afraid that he refuses to return to his country.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, heading a three-judge bench of the apex court, resumed hearing of Musharraf's review petition against his disqualification by the Peshawar High Court in 2013 reports the Dawn.

The chief justice remarked that the former military ruler should return to the country by 2 p.m. on Thursday, and added that the court will pass the verdict in accordance with law if the former failed to turn up.

"The Supreme Court is not bound to Musharraf's terms," the CJP observed, "We've already said that if Musharraf returns, he will be provided with security. We are not bound to also provide a written guarantee in this regard."

"If Pervez Musharraf is a commando, he should show us by returning instead of continuously parroting like a politician that he will return," the chief justice said.

"Why does Musharraf need protection, what is he so afraid of? How can a commando be so afraid? Musharraf has said that he evaded death many times, but was never afraid. He didn't feel afraid when he was taking over this country," the CJP wondered.

Musharraf, who has not visited Pakistan since leaving for Dubai in March 2016, had filed a plea in the Supreme Court two years ago against the verdict of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) that had disqualified him from politics for life.