<p>Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who is a "proclaimed offender" in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case, today announced that he will contest the upcoming general elections from Chitral, a constituency in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Musharraf, 69, made the announcement while addressing the elders of Chitral via a video-link from Dubai, the Express Tribune reported.<br /><br />The former President who ruled Pakistan between 1999 and 2008, had formed a party called the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) and had vowed to end his self-exile to contest the elections in the country.<br /><br />However, with only months to go to the general elections, he is yet return to the country on account of security concerns.<br /><br />APML Secretary General Barrister Saif said the former president had rendered great services to the people of Chitral, and development projects had been initiated during his tenure.<br /><br />Saif said the people of Chitral had invited the former president to contest the forthcoming election from their area.<br /><br />The former president was declared a "proclaimed offender" by a trial court hearing the Benazir Bhutto assassination case and a red warrant has also been issued to Interpol for his arrest.<br /><br />Reports last month had said that Musharraf is keen to return to Pakistan from self-exile when an interim government headed by a "neutral" Prime Minister is formed ahead of the general election scheduled for early next year.<br /><br />Musharraf's party sources had then said that he has started contacting friends in the powerful army and in political circles to assess the possibility of his homecoming under a caretaker set-up.<br /><br />Musharraf, who has been living in London and Dubai since early 2009, dropped plans to return to Pakistan earlier this year after the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government warned he would be arrested on arrival as a court had issued a non-bailable warrant for him in connection with the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.</p>
<p>Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who is a "proclaimed offender" in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case, today announced that he will contest the upcoming general elections from Chitral, a constituency in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Musharraf, 69, made the announcement while addressing the elders of Chitral via a video-link from Dubai, the Express Tribune reported.<br /><br />The former President who ruled Pakistan between 1999 and 2008, had formed a party called the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) and had vowed to end his self-exile to contest the elections in the country.<br /><br />However, with only months to go to the general elections, he is yet return to the country on account of security concerns.<br /><br />APML Secretary General Barrister Saif said the former president had rendered great services to the people of Chitral, and development projects had been initiated during his tenure.<br /><br />Saif said the people of Chitral had invited the former president to contest the forthcoming election from their area.<br /><br />The former president was declared a "proclaimed offender" by a trial court hearing the Benazir Bhutto assassination case and a red warrant has also been issued to Interpol for his arrest.<br /><br />Reports last month had said that Musharraf is keen to return to Pakistan from self-exile when an interim government headed by a "neutral" Prime Minister is formed ahead of the general election scheduled for early next year.<br /><br />Musharraf's party sources had then said that he has started contacting friends in the powerful army and in political circles to assess the possibility of his homecoming under a caretaker set-up.<br /><br />Musharraf, who has been living in London and Dubai since early 2009, dropped plans to return to Pakistan earlier this year after the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government warned he would be arrested on arrival as a court had issued a non-bailable warrant for him in connection with the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.</p>