DHAKA: Pakistan’s embattled former military dictator Pervez Musharraf has refused to leave the country on ‘medical grounds’ until he is given ‘clean chit’ in high treason and other cases, according to a close aide.

Contrary to the impression that ‘Musharraf’s illness drama’ has been staged to prepare a ground to send him abroad under a deal, his friends suggest that all efforts to ‘persuade’ him to leave the country have failed to bear fruit as the Nawaz Sharif-led government wants to ‘rid’ 70-year-old Musharraf of as early as possible.

‘Musharraf is more keen to get his name cleared in high treason and other cases rather than leaving the country on medical grounds,’ said former deputy prime minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi who is considered close to the former president, reports The Times of India.

BDST: 1833 HRS, JAN 16, 2014
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor