Former Pakistan President Musharraf survives assassination bid

Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf, facing treason trial, had a narrow escape when a powerful bomb went off on a road near his farmhouse on the outskirts of Islamabad shortly after his convoy had passed.

The explosion took place on VVIP Road between Faizabad and Rawal Dam Chowk, one hour after 70-year-old Musharraf's convoy passed through the same route at 3 am to shift him to his farmhouse from from Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi.

The intensity of the blast caused about a foot deep hole in the ground at the site of the incident. The police claimed that the attack was aimed to target the former president, media reports in Islamabad said.

The police said the bomb disposal squad was called in at the blast site -- three kilometers from Musharraf's sprawling Chak Shehzad farmhouse.

The bomb was reportedly planted in a drainage pipe adjacent to the footpath.

Since Musharraf is under threat from terror groups, heavy security has been given to him and all his routes are thoroughly checked before he gets out.

Reports said one person, who was in a car passing through the area, was injured in the blast.

The former military dictator was admitted to the AFIC on January 2 when he complained of heart problems on his way to a special court set up for his high treason trial for abrogating the constitution and detaining judges in 2007.

Image: Pakistan's former President Pervez Musharraf speaks during a news conference in Dubai March 23, 2013

Photograph: Mohammad Abu Omar/Reuters