Former president Pervez Musharraf, currently living in self-exile in Britain and Dubai, will be arrested whenever he returns to Pakistan, Punjab Governor Latif Khosa has said.
Mr. Khosa, a senior leader of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, said Mr. Musharraf had been declared a “proclaimed offender” or fugitive by an anti-terrorism court conducting the trial of those charged with involvement in the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.
Mr. Musharraf would be arrested on his return to Pakistan, Mr. Khosa told reporters at the Governor’s House here last evening.
The former military ruler, who has set up the All Pakistan Muslim League party, has announced that he intends to return to Pakistan on March 23 next year.
He has been living outside the country since April 2009.
“If Musharraf lands in Islamabad, then the federal government will arrest him and if he lands in Punjab province, (former prime minister) Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N government will lay hands on him,” Mr. Khosa said.
All Pakistan Muslim League spokesman Fawad Chaudhry told PTI that despite several arrest warrants issued for Mr. Musharraf and security issues, the former President would return to the country.
“Musharraf has made it clear that he will return to his homeland no matter what may come,” Mr. Chaudhry said.
Mr. Khosa said seven suspects charged with involvement in the killing of Benazir Bhutto had been indicted while arrest warrants for several others had been issued.
Without naming slain Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, he said one of the main accused had already been killed.
He lashed out at former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for politicising the assassination of Bhutto.
“Nawaz Sharif should not hurt the feelings of Sindhis as PPP workers have an emotional attachment with the Bhuttos,” he said.
Mr. Khosa asked Mr. Sharif why he could not launch a probe to uncover the conspiracies that led to the death of former premier Liaquat Ali Khan and former president Zia-ul-Haq despite coming to power twice.
