SC bars Pervez Musharraf from contesting upcoming elections after no-show

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday suspended conditional permission granted to General (retd) Pervez Musharraf to contest the upcoming general election after his counsel informed that the former president will not return to the country today.

Musharraf's counsel informed a five-judge bench headed by Justice Nisar that Musharraf will not be able to return to the country owing to the current situation and Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, reports local media.

Last week, the apex court had allowed Musharraf, 74, to file nomination papers to contest the July 25 general elections on the condition that he would appear in person before the court on today in Lahore to attend the hearing in the case.

Although Musharraf's nomination papers for Chitral's NA-1 seat were submitted earlier this week, the former dictator did not appear in court on Wednesday despite SC orders that his national identity card (CNIC) and passport were unblocked in order to facilitate his travel.

Musharraf, the former Pakistan Army chief, began his military service in 1964 as a commando of the Northern Light Infantry. He also participated in the 1971 war as a company commander in a commando battalion.

In 2013, Musharraf was declared ineligible to contest elections for life by the Peshawar High Court (PHC) in view of the 2009 judgement in which 2007 emergency was declared illegal.

In his appeal, Musharraf had pleaded before the Supreme Court to set aside the high court order, stating that in it he was condemned unheard without due process of law.

Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008, has been declared a fugitive in the Benazir Bhutto murder case and Red Mosque cleric killing case.

He has sought adequate security from the government for his return from the UAE.