SC lifts travel ban on Musharraf

ISLAMABAD: Former president and military ruler Pervez Musharraf has received the permission of Pakistan's top court to travel out of the country for medical purposes.

Hearing a petition today filed by the federal government against removal of Musharraf’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL), the apex court upheld an earlier decision by the Sindh High Court and rejected the government’s appeal to stop the former military general from leaving the country.

"Appeal is dismissed," the court said in a short order.

“As of this date, there are no restrictions on Pervez Musharraf barring him from traveling out of the country,” his lawyer Farogh Naseem told reporters outside the Supreme Court.

Musharraf, 70, is facing a number of high profile cases, including murder and high treason. He was indicted for treason last year over his imposition of emergency rule in 2007.

The former president is also on bail in connection with two other major cases: the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the killing of the cleric of Islamabad's Lal Masjid n a military raid. He has pleaded not guilty in all cases and has remained free though not allowed to travel abroad.

Musharraf’s lawyers have said that he needs the travel ban to be lifted so he can go abroad for medical reasons. His lawyers say he also wants to visit his ailing mother in Dubai.

The Sindh High Court had ordered the removal of the former military ruler’s name from the ECL.

According to sources, preparations have started for Musharraf’s departure from the country.

Ahmed Raza Kasuri, a close aide of the former military general, said that Musharraf may leave the country in the next one or two days.