Riyadh, August 02: As Pervez Musharraf appeared headed for trouble in the wake of the Supreme Court declaring his imposition of emergency in 2007 as unconstitutional, Saudi Arabia has said it would consider offering political asylum to Pakistan’s former military ruler if he made a request.
65-year-old Musharraf, who is abroad on a lecture tour, refused to comment on the the apex court’s landmark verdict on Saturday when a TV news channel contacted him.
The former Pakistan President said he would give his reaction only after reading the verdict.
Adding another twist to the affair, Saudi Ambassador Abdul Aziz bin Ibrahim Al Ghadeer, meanwhile, told reporters that his country would consider giving Musharraf political asylum if the former military ruler made a request.
Though the prospect of Musharraf, who is reportedly in Europe, being brought to trial appears unlikely at the moment, anyone accused of violating the Constitution can be tried for treason if the federal government decides to seek such proceedings.
Musharraf, who has been living abroad since he left Pakistan in mid-April to deliver a series of lectures around the world, continues to enjoy the backing of the powerful army which he once led.
Though leaders of the influential lawyers’ movement have been calling for Musharraf to be tried for treason, the civilian government is unlikely to have a confrontation with the army over the issue.
-Agencies