former president Pervez Musharraf has delayed his return home, the head of his party announced Friday after repeated threats by the country's leadership that the ex-strongman would be arrested upon arrival. "He finally decided today that he would accept the recommendations" of the executive committee of the All Pakistan Muslim League party to delay his return, party secretary general Mohammed Ali Saif told reporters.
"This decision (of returning) will be deliberated by the core committee of the party," he said. Friends and supporters had urged Musharraf to put off an imminent homecoming after Islamabad said he would be arrested if he returned from more than three years of self-imposed exile in London and Dubai.
Saif said that "political developments in Pakistan took a turn" following Musharraf's announcement in early January of his intention to return by the end of the month. Reaction from government officials "led to a change in the political scenario and... a drastic change in the situation," he said. The party has concluded that "it would not be beneficial to the party's interest that (former) president Musharraf returns to Pakistan" in the current conditions, he added.