ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui granted interim bail to former president Pervez Musharraf till April 18 in the confinement of judges’ case, Express News reported on Friday.

The court questioned the former president as to why he decided to  come directly to the high court.

“You should have contacted the session court and later appealed in the high court,” Justice Shaukat said.

The court also directed the former president to submit security bonds worth Rs500,000.

Musharraf was asked to cooperate with the police and come in person in the next hearing.

The IHC will further discuss the issue of Musharraf not contacting the lower courts before discussing the actual case.

The lawyers were protesting outside the high court’s premises against the former president. Musharraf reached Islamabad High court amid high security and left through the back door.

Earlier on April 10, the Supreme Court held hearing for the five identical petitions seeking trial of the former president on charges of treason.

Musharraf refused to appear in person in the Supreme Court and instead his advocate, Ahmed Raza Kasuri represented him.

Comments by Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

According to my understanding, Musharraf has done more good to the country than he is accused of doing bad. He is a brave soldier and true Pakistani patriot. He might not be perfect but is a better option than all other options we have today. May Allah succeed him taking country out of current mess. My prayers and wishes for Gen (R) Pevez Musharraf.

How ironical that my Bhaijan former President Gen (R) Pervez Musharraf returned back home to basically to contest National Assembly election but since his arrival he has been entangled in different court cases in different cities whereby he had not been spared to hold even 1 political gathering and as a consequence he could not field anyone other than self from his All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) to contest the election. As the bad luck had it his nominations have been rejected from three constituencies whereas just Chitral has accepted but the same is being disputed and challenged.
Is he mistaken to come back? My prayers for Bhaijan.