ISI chief secretly met Musharraf in Dubai: Report

Islamabad, Jan 23: Pakistan's ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha held a secret meeting with former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in Dubai and advised him not to return to the country, according to a media report today.

"Gen Pasha, who has remained very close to the former President, held a meeting with (Musharraf) in Dubai and advised him not to return to the country as the situation is not conducive for his return," a source was quoted as saying by Dawn News channel. The channel quoted its sources as saying that Pasha "strictly advised" Musharraf not to return to Pakistan from self-exile.

The report said it was not clear whether the meeting was held on the directions of the Pakistan People's Party-led government or if it was a private meeting. The report said Musharraf, after meeting Pasha, convened a meeting of his All Pakistan Muslim League party on January 25 for reviewing his decision to return to Pakistan.

The media report coincided with a resolution passed by the Senate or upper house of parliament that demanded the arrest of Musharraf on his return to Pakistan and the registration of a case of high treason against him for abrogating the Constitution.

Several Pakistani leaders, including Interior Minister Rehman Malik, have said Musharraf would be arrested on his return to Pakistan. Musharraf recently postponed his plans to return to Karachi during January 27-30. The dictator has been living outside Pakistan since early 2009.

PTI