March 24, 2013 – On Sunday, Pervez Musharraf, the former president of Pakistan returned home after a self-imposed exile. Musharraf is attempting to recapture his place in his country’s politics in a nation he once ruled after leading a military coup.
Musharraf returned to Pakistan on Sunday to the port city of Karachi in the south
Musharraf returned to Pakistan on Sunday to the port city of Karachi in the south. He was greeted upon his arrival by hundreds of supporters and well-wishers. Musharraf toppled the country’s civilian government in 1999 in a bloodless coup and then resigned about 10 year later due to opposition from civil society and judges.
Musharraf faces prosecution in Pakistan and promises from the Taliban that they well assassinate him. His return coincides at a time when the country is nearing political transition never before seen.
In early March, the Pakistani government president Asif Ali Zardari ended his rule after a complete term, which has paved the way for May general elections. If those elections are held as planned, they will be the first democratically elected government in the history of the country.
Other governments have been elected in Pakistan but all of their terms were cut short eight by interference from the military behind the scenes or through a public coup, like the one that put Musharraf in power.
Musharraf now will face threats from militants, legal problems and a political future that is uncertain. He has been charged with being involved the death in 2005 of Nawab Akbar Bugti, the Baloch leader. He also will face criminal charges for his connection with the assassination of Benazir Bhutto the former prime minister. Bhutto was killed after a political rally in 2007. President Zardari was the husband of the late Ms. Bhutto. Musharraf said those claims brought against him are political.