Pervez Musharraf leaves for Dubai for ‘medical treatment’

Lahore: Hours after the interior ministry issued a notification to remove his name from the exit control list (ECL), former president General (retd.) Pervez Musharraf left for Dubai early Friday morning citing medical treatment.

Speaking to a Dawn correspondent before leaving, he said that that he was a ‘commando and that he loved his country’ and will come back in a few weeks or months.

Asserting that he will face all the pending cases against him, the former president said that he

was keeping himself abreast with developments in the country and will actively take part in politics after his return.

Musharraf said he was going abroad to seek “medical treatment of a decade-old illness which has now developed several complications.”

Earlier, Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan announced at a press conference that the government had decided to allow Musharraf to travel abroad for treatment after the Supreme Court lifted a ban on Musharraf’s foreign travel a day ago.

According to the minister, Musharraf had committed to facing all cases against him in court and had “promised to return in four to six weeks.”

Musharraf, who is facing a treason trial for clamping emergency in the country on Nov 3, 2007, was barred from travelling abroad after his name was placed on the ECL on Apr 5, 2013. (ANI)