An ailing Pervez Musharraf on Friday left for Dubai hours after the Pakistani government allowed the former military ruler facing trial in a number of cases, including for high treason, to go abroad for medical treatment.
Mr Musharraf’s lawyers, who is facing multiple charges over the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, said he needed urgent spinal treatment not available in Pakistan.
“I am a commando and I love my homeland. I will come back in a few weeks or months,” said 72-year-old Mr Musharraf.
Vowing to face all pending cases against him, Mr Musharraf said he was keeping himself abreast with developments in the country and will actively take part in politics after his return.
He said he was going abroad to seek “medical treatment of a decade-old illness which has now developed several complications”.
The former President boarded the Emirates flight 611 bound for Dubai that departed from Karachi airport at 3.55 am local time.
“He was the last person to be embarked on the plane and then the gate was closed. The retired general appeared relaxed,” a media report quoted an airport source as saying.
He landed in Dubai at 5am.
“Musharraf intends to go back to Pakistan after his medical treatment as he wants to serve the country,” said Muhammad Amjad, secretary-general of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) — a political party led by Mr Musharraf.
Mr Amjad told reporters in Dubai that a team of doctors would decide about the former ruler’s next destination for medical treatment.
Mr Musharraf, who went into self-imposed exile in Dubai after being forced to resign as President facing impeachment following the 2008 elections, had returned to Pakistan in 2013 but was implicated in several cases.
He was not allowed to leave the country until government on Thursday evening allowed him to go abroad for treatment following orders by the Supreme Court a day earlier.
The Opposition parties on Friday attacked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for allowing his arch rival to fly to Dubai.
The main Opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) criticised the government for showing weakness.
PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto said his party will protest against the government’s decision in and outside the Parliament.
He said the PPP threw Mr Musharraf out of power but his main victim — Mr Sharif — had allowed him to escape.
The PPP also took up the issue in the National Assembly accusing the government of hypocrisy.
Maula Bux Chandio, a Cabinet member in the PPP led Sindh government, alleged Mr Sharif had struck a deal with Mr Musharraf.
PTI chief Imran Khan expressed surprise over the government’s decision to lift travel ban on Mr Musharraf.
“I am, surprised Nawaz Sharif has started to love Pervez Musharraf,” he said.
Interior minister Nisar Ali Khan had on Thursday told a press briefing that after consultation, the government decided to let Mr Musharraf leave the country for treatment.
He said Mr Musharraf’s lawyers had formally asked the government to allow him to undertake foreign travels.
