Former President of Pakistan, General (Retired) Pervez Musharraf resigned as party chairman from the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) on Monday, 18 June, ANI reported on Friday, 22 June.
According to Dawn, newly elected party chairman Dr Mohammad Amjad said that Musharraf resigned from the post due to the 2013 Peshawar High Court verdict that disqualified him from politics for life.
Musharraf has reportedly sent his resignation letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
According to ANI, Musharraf has been out of Pakistan since March 2016 and currently resides in Dubai.
The 2013 verdict was challenged on his behalf in the Pakistan Supreme Court in 2016. The court subsequently issued a directive stating that Musharraf would be allowed to file his nomination papers only if he was present in court for the hearing on 13 June. It also added that the fate of the papers would depend on the final decision in the present case, reported Dawn.
However, despite nomination papers being filed on his behalf, Musharraf failed to return to Pakistan and make an appearance before the court. As a consequence, the SC withdrew its directive permitting nomination papers to be filed.
Speaking to journalists via a video link in Dubai, Musharraf said, “The apex order barring the authorities from arresting me till my appearance before the august court has forced me to rethink my plans about my return. There will be no benefit of my return to the country if I am arrested just after my appearance before the court.”
He claimed that he was not a coward, but merely awaiting the right time to return to Pakistan. His resignation also came as a consequence of these events, reported ANI.
Dr Amjad will take over as the new leader of the party and Mehreen Malik Adam will serve as secretary general.
(With inputs from Dawn and ANI.)
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