Pakistan police say blast in Rawalpindi was aimed at former military ruler who was due to pass through area 20 minutes later, the fourth attempt on his life
Pakistani policemen inspect the site of the bomb explosion Photo: Aamir Qureshi/AFP
By Faizan Fiaz, Islamabad
The former president of Pakistan has escaped an assassination attempt just days after he pleaded not guilty to high treason at a special court in Islamabad.
Local police say that General Pervez Musharraf was being transported from the military hospital in Rawalpindi where he has been treated since January to his home in nearby Islamabad when explosives were detonated en route.
Nobody was killed but local channels reported that one woman had been injured.
"Four kilogrammes of explosive device planted in a pipeline under a bridge exploded around 20 minutes before the former president was supposed to cross the spot," senior police official Liaqat Niazi said.
The former President is in the midst of fighting charges of High Treason for actions he took during his term in office in 2007.
If found guilty he could face the death penalty.
At a special hearing on Tuesday, he pleaded 'not guilty' and denied that he was a traitor to the country.
"I fought two wars and was awarded for gallantry during the 1965 war," he said.
Pervez Musharraf (Philip Hollis)
On Thursday his lawyers in Islamabad were fearful for his safety.
"We demand that the Pakistani Government provide adequate security to Musharraf. We have informed our independent security team to be on the highest state of alert," said Raza Anjum, his legal adviser.
No group has claimed responsibility for Thursdays attack but fingers will point towards Tereekh-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the largest of the militant groups who have been waging an insurgency against the Pakistani state over the last decade.
They issued a death threat to Gen Musharraf when he returned to Pakistan from exile in March last year and during the course of his treason trial, his representatives say, hand guns and explosive devices have been found near his home on the outskirts of Islamabad.
Under Gen Musharraf's leadership Pakistan clamped down heavily on militancy, most notably during the controversial Lal Masjid operation in Islamabad in 2007 in which around 100 suspected insurgents were killed.
Speculation in Pakistan's capital is rife that the former army chief is preparing to flee the country.
However, he is currently on the Exit Control List and his lawyers deny entering into any negotiation with Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to allow him to leave.
"There was no deal in place when Musharraf returned to Pakistan in 2013 and there will be no deal in place if Musharraf travels abroad for medical reasons," Raza Anjum said.
Pakistani policemen inspect the site of the bomb explosion Photo: Aamir Qureshi/AFPBy Faizan Fiaz, Islamabad
The former president of Pakistan has escaped an assassination attempt just days after he pleaded not guilty to high treason at a special court in Islamabad.
Local police say that General Pervez Musharraf was being transported from the military hospital in Rawalpindi where he has been treated since January to his home in nearby Islamabad when explosives were detonated en route.
Nobody was killed but local channels reported that one woman had been injured.
"Four kilogrammes of explosive device planted in a pipeline under a bridge exploded around 20 minutes before the former president was supposed to cross the spot," senior police official Liaqat Niazi said.
The former President is in the midst of fighting charges of High Treason for actions he took during his term in office in 2007.
If found guilty he could face the death penalty.
At a special hearing on Tuesday, he pleaded 'not guilty' and denied that he was a traitor to the country.
"I fought two wars and was awarded for gallantry during the 1965 war," he said.
Pervez Musharraf (Philip Hollis)
On Thursday his lawyers in Islamabad were fearful for his safety.
"We demand that the Pakistani Government provide adequate security to Musharraf. We have informed our independent security team to be on the highest state of alert," said Raza Anjum, his legal adviser.
No group has claimed responsibility for Thursdays attack but fingers will point towards Tereekh-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the largest of the militant groups who have been waging an insurgency against the Pakistani state over the last decade.
They issued a death threat to Gen Musharraf when he returned to Pakistan from exile in March last year and during the course of his treason trial, his representatives say, hand guns and explosive devices have been found near his home on the outskirts of Islamabad.
Under Gen Musharraf's leadership Pakistan clamped down heavily on militancy, most notably during the controversial Lal Masjid operation in Islamabad in 2007 in which around 100 suspected insurgents were killed.
Speculation in Pakistan's capital is rife that the former army chief is preparing to flee the country.
However, he is currently on the Exit Control List and his lawyers deny entering into any negotiation with Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to allow him to leave.
"There was no deal in place when Musharraf returned to Pakistan in 2013 and there will be no deal in place if Musharraf travels abroad for medical reasons," Raza Anjum said.
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