Musharraf seeks permission to travel abroad

Embattled former Pakistani dictator Pervez Musharraf today sought permission to travel abroad for medical treatment from the special court conducting his trial on charges of high treason.

Musharraf's legal team filed a plea in the court, seeking the removal of his name from the Interior Ministry's Exit Control List (ECL) so that he could travel abroad.

The application contended that the 70-year-old former army chief wants to visit America for cardiac treatment.

"We have filed an application today seeking removal of his name from the ECL. The matter is likely to be heard next week. The court will issue notices to concerned authorities," Muhammad Ali Saif, a key member of Musharraf's legal team, told PTI.
 

Persons included in the ECL are barred from travelling abroad.

Musharraf was admitted to a military hospital in Rawalpindi on January 2 after he developed heart problems while being driven to the special court. Some observers believe his hospitalisation is a ploy to get permission for him to travel out of Pakistan.

A medical report submitted by a medical board set up by the special court said Musharraf had refused to undergo an angiography here and wants to go abroad for treatment. It further said his health is such that a heart attack could be "life threatening".

The government's prosecutor objected to the findings of the medical board, which was headed by Maj Gen Syed Muhammad Imran Majeed.

Musharraf's legal team earlier submitted to the court a letter from his US-based private doctor Arjumand Hashmi, who said the former President should be sent to medical facility in Texas for treatment.

He is the first former military ruler to face treason charges for imposing an emergency in November 2007. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment or the death penalty.