Gilani assures Musharraf of 'warm welcome' by Chief Justice on his return to Pak

Multan, Sept 14 (ANI): In the wake of former president Pervez Musharraf's announcement of making a political comeback in Pakistan, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that the chief justice of the country would extend a "warm welcome" to the former military ruler, since there were several cases pending against him.

Gilani made the comment after a visit to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior vice president Makhdoom Javed Hashmi's residence to inquire about his health, The News reports.

Speaking about Musharraf's return to the country, Gilani said he did not know when the former military ruler, who is currently living in London in exile, would return.

"However, I do know that there are many cases against him, and whenever he does return, the chief justice will be there to give him a warm welcome," Gilani added.

The retired general's confirmation of reports that he was forming a new political party with an aim of re-joining politics in Pakistan and would also be standing for a seat in the next parliament, has been greeted with scorn from top political parties of the country.

Musharraf ousted former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup in 1999. He was the president of Pakistan from 2001 and has mostly lived in London since resigning in 2008 after facing threat of impeachment. (ANI)