Musharraf returns to Pakistan, from exile

DUBAI: Pakistan's former President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's flight from Dubai arrived in Karachi after four and a half years in exile. The 69-year-old ex-dictator says he is prepared to risk any...

By
AFP
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Musharraf returns to Pakistan, from exile
DUBAI: Pakistan's former President Gen. (retd) Pervez Musharraf's flight from Dubai arrived in Karachi after four and a half years in exile.

The 69-year-old ex-dictator says he is prepared to risk any danger to stand for election on May 11.

Dressed in an off-white shalwar kameez, the traditional dress of Pakistan, Musharraf told reporters outside his residence in Dubai, that he was "not feeling nervous" but admitted to some concerns.

"I am feeling concerned about the unknown... there are a lot of unknown factors of terrorism and extremism, unknown factors of legal issue, unknown factors of how much I will be able to perform (in the elections)," he said.

His official Facebook and Twitter accounts provided live commentary, posting messages and photographs of him boarding the aircraft and sitting in his seat.

His scheduled Emirates flight to Karachi took off after some delay at around 10:15 local time (0615 GMT) with supporters on board shouting "long life to Musharraf", annoying some of the regular passengers, said an AFP reporter.