Former President Musharraf Flees Pakistani High Court Arrest Order

On April 18, former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf fled the Islamabad High Court after his bail was revoked. 

Justice Shaukat Siddiqui revoked the bail and ordered the arrest of the former president, at which time Musharraf’s security detail helped him escape. 

“Paramilitary soldiers with riot shields guarded his path from the courtroom to the car.” Television footage showed him getting into his “black SUV,” which then sped “out of the gates of the Islamabad High Court.”  

The call to arrest Musharraf was tied to his “2007 order to fire most of the [Pakistani] senior judiciary” and “place them under house arrest.” This was the event that eventually led to outrage throughout Pakistan and resulted in Musharraf resigning from office.

Judge Siddiqui described Musharraf’s alleged actions toward the judiciary as an “act of terror.”

Because Musharraf still enjoys strong support from portions of the Pakistani military, it’s unclear whether anyone will even try to arrest him.