Musharraf to be arrested upon return to Pak: Malik

The Pakistan Government will arrest former military ruler Pervez Musharraf if he returned to the country at the end of the month, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said.

"I assure this house that if he lands in Pakistan, he will be arrested because he is a PO (proclaimed offender). There are three registered cases against him. He has been named in these cases, so ultimately he will be arrested," The Dawn quoted Malik, as saying

Musharraf had earlier said that he would return to Pakistan between January 27 and 30 to contest general elections after spending three years abroad in self-imposed exile.

A spokesperson for Musharraf's party, All India Pakistan League, stressed that Musharraf does not fear his arrest upon his return to the country but indicated that he is yet to take a final decision in this regard.

Musharraf has been declared a proclaimed offender in Nawab Akbar Bugti and Benazir Bhutto murder cases.

A defence official said the Pakistan Government has ordered the forces to step up security between January 27 and 30 in Karachi "to avoid any untoward incident". (ANI)