Pakistan Grants Musharraf Protective Bail Ahead Of Return

Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says he plans to return to Karachi to take part in the May elections.

The lawyer of former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says Musharraf has been granted protective bail in several legal cases.

The retired general has been living mostly in London and Dubai since stepping down in 2008.

He says he plans to return to Karachi on March 24 to take part in general elections in May.

Musharraf is wanted for questioning in investigations into the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the 2006 killing of a Baluch tribal leader, and the 2007 firing of judges.

The bail order ensures that Musharraf cannot be arrested for 10 days in connection with the judges' firing and for two weeks in connection with the other two cases.

In each case he was granted bail with a surety of 100,000 rupees ($1,000).

Based on reporting by AFP and dpa