Musharraf unlikely to return to Pakistan

As Pakistan is gripped by a volatile situation following a crackdown on Taliban militants, question marks hang over whether former President Pervez Musharraf, who is currently on a trip to Europe, will return home or not.

Musharraf is not expected to return to Pakistan from a foreign lecture tour in the near future, said his close aide Major General (retired) Rashid Qureshi.

Qureshi, a former spokesman of Musharraf, confirmed that the former president would stay abroad for a longer period of time, but had no information on when he would return home.

"I have no idea how long the former President will stay abroad. Though I am still in touch with him, (I) have no exact idea on this count," Qureshi told The News daily.

Musharraf left Pakistan for a private visit to Saudi Arabia on April 19. From there, he subsequently traveled to Europe. Musharraf, who survived two assassination attempts, is believed to be on the hit list of several militant groups.

There has been considerable speculation in political circles about him leaving Pakistan for an unspecified period of time.

Sheharyar, another aide of the former military ruler, said Musharraf is currently in London and would be traveling to the US from there. Musharraf would then travel back to Europe, he said.

Musharraf will be delivering lectures on terrorism-related issues and the rise of the Taliban in Europe and the United States, Sheharyar said.

He acknowledged that Musharraf's current trip was his longest visit abroad after quitting as president in August last year.