ISLAMABAD: Former President Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf, now declared a proclaimed offender, has already fallen from favour of the United States that has stopped giving him security and protocol but in contrast the UK and UAE have beefed it up. As an anti-terrorism court on Monday declared Musharraf a proclaimed offender, the Obama administration has withdrawn his protocol after the United Nation’s Fact Finding report on Benazir Bhutto’s assassination indicted him for alleged complicity in the murder, it has been learnt through diplomatic sources in Washington. But the UK, in contrast, has increased his security cover that, according to former military ruler’s spokesman, is more than what is accorded to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. As for the US, Musharraf is treated like an ordinary citizen who has to join queues at the immigration counter and undergo thorough body search at departure lounge. “Musharraf, in past, would have his immigration process expedited after landing at US airports,” said a diplomatic source at Pakistan’s Washington mission. Instead of waiting in line, the source goes on, the American protocol staff would do this on his behalf. “It has been stopped now.” Not only this, security escort has been withdrawn. Now, as he departs from the US, he stands in line, puts off his shoes and belt, has his hands up for thorough search and only then cleared for check-in, said a source in Pakistan’s Washington mission. But in contrast to the US, two other states hosting the former Pakistani dictator, the UK and UAE, have beefed up his security. The reason for mounting this security shield is threats he has been receiving after the killing of Osama bin Laden, according to Ch Fawad, one of his spokesmen. He proudly claims that Musharraf is the only foreign leader in UK provided security more than that granted to Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister. Musharraf who formed and runs a political party in
exile, has started exploring new political allies and the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) is one of them. The PTI that is growing its ties with pro-establishment parties has instructed its chapters in western countries neither to speak against Musharraf nor lodge any protest on his arrival there, an advice being strictly followed. This fact has been confirmed by a PTI spokesman. “We want the party’s overseas organizations to remain focused on relatively more important issues. Unnecessary meddling must be restrained,” Umar Sarfraz Cheema of the PTI said. PTI coming closer to Musharraf has been further exhibited through puppy politics. Imran Khan, PTI’s chief, has recently been gifted a puppy by Musharraf who used to criticize Imran Khan frequently. The puppy was born at a dog center at the Musharraf’s farmhouse, However there is a dispute over the legitimate owner of the puppy’s parents. A close aide of Musharraf said, the dog used for crossbreeding was gifted to the former dictator by the former German chancellor. However, Humayun Gohar, a common friend of Musharraf and Imran, claimed the dog declared Mr Pakistan was owned by him and the mother belonged to Musharraf. When asked whether this meant that Musharraf’s bitch gave birth to the puppy gifted to Imran, he changed his position saying: “The dog and bitch both are owned by me but have been kept at Musharraf’s farm house.”
