By Waj S. Khan and Fakhar Rehman, NBC NewsISLAMABAD -- Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf fled a court pursued by lawyers trying to stop him after a judge on Thursday ordered his arrest on treason charges.
Musharraf, a retired general, took power in Pakistan in a coup in 1999 and was an ally of the West until he resigned in 2008.
After nearly four years of self-imposed exile in England and despite Taliban death threats (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/24/17437116-taliban-threat-forces-pakistans-musharraf-to-cancel-welcome-rally?lite), he returned to Pakistan last month (http://www.nbcnews.com/id/51307809/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/t/musharraf-returns-pakistan-amid-death-threats/#.UW_Ho7WR9Zo) hoping to win a seat in the country’s National Assembly in elections in May.
But Musharraf was then accused of treason (http://www.nbcnews.com/id/51464283/t/pakistans-musharraf-entangled-treason-accusation/#.UW_HVbWR9Zo) over events in 2007, when he declared emergency rule during a power struggle with judges. He had been on bail.
During a High Court hearing on Thursday, however, a judge ordered that his bail be canceled and that he be detained.
Then, in dramatic scenes caught on television, Musharraf dashed from the court and left in a black SUV, Reuters reported. The images showed several lawyers making half-hearted attempts to pursue his vehicle.
Former President Pervez Musharraf returned to Pakistan Sunday hoping to return to mainstream politics. NBC's Waj Khan reports.When he returned to Pakistan, Musharraf was given a security detail -- including special forces units, police and helicopters -- and they helped him get back to his home on the outskirts of Islamabad.
Rashid Qureshi, an adviser to Musharraf and also a former general, said that Musharraf was “safe” in the house.
“Roadblocks have been planted outside his house by the police to protect him, not to cut off his exit. The general is here to stay. He knew of these challenges when he decided to return boldly to Pakistan,” Qureshi said.
“He is still being protected by the police, and did not escape anything or anyone,” he said.
Musharraf's lawyer Qamar Afzal said later that the former president had filed petitions in the Supreme Court, hoping it would overturn the High Court's ruling.
"Musharraf is calm and upbeat, ready to face legal proceedings. I hope the Supreme Court will grant bail," Afzal said.
Musharraf's hopes of standing in the elections were dashed earlier this week when election officers barred him from standing (http://www.nbcnews.com/id/51554265/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/t/pakistans-musharraf-disqualified-election/#.UW_H47WR9Zo), in part due to the various legal challenges he faces, Reuters reported.
Slideshow: Pakistan: A nation in turmoil (http://slideshow.nbcnews.com/id/34972092/displaymode/1247/?wbSlideShowId=34972092&wbSection=news&wbSlideShowTeaseId=34972021)(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-pakistan-2013/ss-130408-pakisan-2013-tease.380;380;7;70;0.jpg) (http://slideshow.nbcnews.com/id/34972092/displaymode/1247/?wbSlideShowId=34972092&wbSection=news&wbSlideShowTeaseId=34972021)Str / AFP - Getty Images
Images of daily life, political pursuits, religious rites and deadly violence.
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Pakistan's military has ruled the nation for more than half of its 66-year history, through coups or from behind the scenes. It sets foreign and security policy even when civilian administrations are in power.
The arrest order pushed Pakistan's increasingly audacious judiciary into uncharted territory, challenging a long-standing, unwritten rule that the top ranks of the army, which ruled Pakistan for decades, are untouchable.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the man Musharraf ousted in a coup in 1999, is seen as the front-runner to win the premiership.
Musharraf also faces charges of failing to provide adequate security for former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto before she was assassinated in late 2007.
Reuters and NBC News' Ian Johnston contributed to this report.
Related:
Taliban threat forces Pakistan's Musharraf to cancel welcome rally (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/24/17437116-taliban-threat-forces-pakistans-musharraf-to-cancel-welcome-rally?lite)
Analysis from 2007: Should the US support Musharraf? (http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21710949/ns/msnbc/t/should-us-support-musharraf/#.UW_IBrWR9Zo)
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