Islamabad, Apr 26: Pakistani intelligence agencies have warned that the Taliban have made plans to kidnap former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who is currently being held at his private residence here after being arrested in several criminal cases.
The intelligence agencies have issued an advisory that the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan might attempt to abduct Musharraf while he is being taken from his farmhouse to court, Geo News channel reported today.
The channel quoted its sources as saying that the Taliban was working with other jihadi groups to kidnap Musharraf.
The intelligence agencies directed security agencies to ensure strict surveillance and tight security to foil the plans of the militants, the report said.
Shortly after Musharraf returned to Pakistan from self-exile last month, the Taliban announced that they had formed a special squad of suicide bombers and snipers to target him.
A car rigged with a huge amount of explosives was recently found near Musharraf's farmhouse on the outskirts of Islamabad, which was declared a “sub-jail” after he was arrested last week when a court revoked his bail in a case over the detention of dozens of judges during the 2007 emergency.
Yesterday, Musharraf was formally arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency in the 2007 assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.
Musharraf has been accused of failing to provide adequate security to Bhutto, who was killed by a suicide bomber after addressing an election rally in Rawalpindi. Musharraf returned to Pakistan last month after nearly four years of self-exile, promising to “save” the country from economic ruin and militancy.
However, he was barred from running in the May 11 general election, which will mark the first democratic transition of power in Pakistan's history.
He is facing several serious criminal cases. Lawyers have petitioned the Supreme Court to put him on trial for treason for imposing emergency in 2007 and he faces charges over the death of Baloch leader Akbar Bugti in a 2006 military operation.
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