Musharraf's UK visit devoid of official procedures

Islamabad, Nov 24 (PTI) Former Pakistan President Pervez
Musharraf's arrival in Britain, for his first private visit
abroad since he stepped down, was devoid of the official
razzmatazz and detailed protocol that marked his earlier
foreign trips.

The former military ruler and his wife arrived in London
Sunday afternoon and were received by their old friend Brig
(retired) Niaz Ahmed. A middle-ranking diplomat was on hand to
represent the Pakistan High Commission.

Musharraf flew into Heathrow airport on a regular
Pakistan International Airlines flight and disembarked like
any normal Club Class passenger. He was the fifth or sixth
passenger to emerge from the plane, said a PIA staffer. He was
then whisked out of the airport through an emergency exit to
avoid the Pakistani and British media.

On his earlier visits to London, Musharraf usually stayed
at the Dorchester Hotel but he will now spend time at Richmond
in Brig Ahmed's home.

Unlike his earlier official visits during which Musharraf
spoke at leading British think tanks and gatherings of the
Pakistani diaspora, there will not be any detailed engagements
this time. However, there is talk of Musharraf speaking at a
think tank or a British university, The News daily reported.

The three best known British think tanks - Chatham House,
International Institute for Strategic Studies and Royal United
Services Institute - do not have Musharraf on their agenda.

Musharraf will leave for the US later this week to spend
few days with his son Bilal who lives in San Francisco, The
News reported.

However, Musharraf's family sources said in Islamabad
that he would have engagements in London till November 30 and
would return to Karachi the same day.

The former President's deputy chief of security, Maj
(retired) Sheharyar, and two security guards are accompanying
him. Sheharyar had resigned from the army the same day
Musharraf stepped down as President in August to avoid
impeachment by the Pakistan People's Party-led government.

Since he resigned, Musharraf has been living at Army
House, the official residence of the army chief in the
garrison city of Rawalpindi. A farmhouse built by Musharraf in
the Chak Shehzad area of Islamabad is currently being
completed but it is not known when the former President will
move into it.

Sources said Musharraf had finalised agreements with some
US universities and think tanks to deliver lectures in late
January and February next year. PTI RHL
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