Former Pakistan leader heads abroad for treatment after travel ban lifted

Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who faces treason charges, has left the country to receive medical treatment in Dubai. His departure on Friday came a day after the government lifted a travel ban imposed on him following an order by Pakistan’s Supreme Court. Pakistani media showed images of Mr Musharraf leaving his home in a heavily guarded convoy for the airport in Karachi. He is said to need urgent spinal treatment unavailable in Pakistan.

I am a commando and I love my homeland. I will come back in a few weeks or months.

Pervez Musharraf

Mr Musharraf came to power in 1999 in a bloodless coup against prime minister Nawaz Sharif and stood down nine years later when threatened with impeachment. He returned to Pakistan in March 2013 after nearly four years of self-imposed exile to contest elections. He was acquitted earlier this year of the murder of a separatist leader in 2006. He still faces, however, at least four other charges, including treason for suspending the constitution in 2007.

musharraf