Pakistani court extends protective bail for Musharraf

A court in Pakistan on Friday extended for three more weeks protective bail to former president, Pervez Musharraf, who faces arrest in three high profile cases, local media reported.The court in Karachi extended Musharraf's bail in three cases - - his government's failure to provide security to former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, who was killed in 2007, the killing of Baloch leader Akbar Bugti in a military operation in 2006 and illegal confinement' of 62 judges after he had declared a state of emergency in the country in 2007.The Sindh High Court had granted protective bail for 10 days to Gen Musharraf on March 22 in three cases which also include the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.During the hearing, government's lawyers opposed bail for Musharraf and prayed the court to cancel the bail. Prosecutor, Shadat Awan, argued that Musharraf was proclaimed offender and he should be denied bail and arrested.However, the defense lawyers requested for the bail, arguing that the former president has volunteered to appear before the court.The defense lawyer, Abdul Qadir Haliputa, also requested the courts to extend his bail for two months as he is contesting elections on May 11. The judges accepted the plea and granted only a 21-day extension.The courts however barred Musharraf from leaving the country and ruled that he would not go abroad without the court's permission.Musharraf expressed satisfaction at the court's verdict shortly after the judge granted extension in a packed court room.Earlier the former president arrived in the court in tight security and with heavily armed guards.A group of lawyers raised slogans against Musharraf as he arrived in the court and one lawyer also threw shoe at the former President, which did not hit him. The lawyers protested against Musharraf for sacking many top judges during his rule. Several Musharraf supporters also raised slogans in his favor.Mr. Musharraf, 70, who had been living in exile in Britain and the United Arab Emirates since he resigned as president in August 2008, returned to Pakistan on March 24.Several courts had issued arrest warrants for Musharraf in several cases while he was living in exile.An anti-terrorism court had issued an arrest warrant in 2011 for Mr. Musharraf in connection with the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.Mr. Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008 after seizing power in a bloodless coup in 1999, has denied all charges, terming them as politically-motivated.Meanwhile a court in the northwestern city of Abbotabad on Friday issued arrest warrant for Pervez Musharraf in the case of a missing government officer.