Musharraf Calls Off Planned Return to Pakistan

Posted January 27th, 2012 at 1:30 pm (UTC-5)
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Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf has called off his planned return to his homeland, citing the ongoing political situation.

The secretary general of Mr. Musharraf's All Pakistan Muslim League, Mohammad Saif, told reporters in Dubai Friday that the former leader decided to heed his party's recommendations and not travel to Pakistan in the coming days, as initially announced.

Saif cited tensions between the civilian government and the Supreme Court, which is currently investigating an unsigned memo in which the government allegedly urged U.S. help in preventing a military coup in Pakistan.

Mr. Musharraf has been in self-imposed exile in London and Dubai after leaving Pakistan to avoid prosecution in 2008.

Pakistani officials have threatened to arrest the former president for alleged involvement in the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Mr. Musharraf blamed the Pakistani Taliban for the Bhutto attack, but prosecutors have since said he played a role himself.

Saif said Friday that Mr. Musharraf will postpone his trip, but gave no new dates for his return. The former president was not present at the press briefing.