The Islamabad high court today pulled up police officials here for allowing former military ruler Pervez Musharraf to flee dramatically from the courtroom last week.
Musharraf, 69, had appeared in the court on April 18 to seek extension of his interim bail in the case relating to sacking of 60 judges during his emergency rule in 2007.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqi had ordered police to arrest him immediately. Even as police tried to reach Musharraf, his bodyguards, all army commandos, rushed him out of the courtroom to his black SUV. Deputy Attorney-General Tariq Jahangiri today informed justice Siddiqi that deputy superintendent of police Idris Rathore has been suspended after Musharraf fled from the courtroom.
However, Siddiqui said though the interior secretary was ordered to take action against the Islamabad police chief, a DSP was being held responsible for Musharraf’s escape.
Musharraf had spent a night at his palatial farmhouse in Chak Shahzad before he was arrested. Later, his farmhouse was declared a “sub-jail”. Musharraf, who returned to Pakistan on March 24 after a nearly four-year long self-imposed exile abroad to contest the May 11 general elections, faces allegations of subverting the constitution by declaring emergency and hence committed treason.