Musharraf's planned homecoming a big-ticket event

Show me the moolah! Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf's party has come out with a rate card for those wanting to join his entourage for his planned homecoming from self-exile -- just USD 2,500 or about Rs 2,50,000.

On March 1, Musharraf announced that he intended to end his nearly four-year-long exile though a date is yet to be set for his return to Pakistan.

However, his All Pakistan Muslim League party has already firmed up plans that will allow people to join his homecoming entourage.

USD 2500 will get you a confirmed one-way seat on the plane carrying 69-year-old Musharraf from Dubai to Pakistan. And the price includes invitation to photo opportunity, reception and dinner in Dubai the night before departure.

If you don't want to fly with him, USD 1000 will allow you to attend dinner, reception and a photo opportunity in Dubai.

USD 500 is for reception and photo opportunity in Dubai while USD 250 will get you a hand-shake and photo opportunity in Dubai with Musharraf the night before his departure.

Journalists are required to pay a registration fee of USD 550 for travelling with Musharraf's entourage.

The event, billed as 'A unique opportunity to travel with General Musharraf to Pakistan', has been organised by the US chapter of the APML.

Details have been posted on Eventbrite, a website that helps organise and sell tickets for such events.

Another event on the website says one can get into the VIP enclosure at the airport in Pakistan, where he will land, to receive and meet General Musharraf.

"Space is limited and Admission is FREE. Available on a 'first come, first serve' basis," the event details say.

Addressing a news conference in Dubai on March 1, Musharraf said he planned to return to Pakistan within a week of the formation of a caretaker administration to oversee upcoming polls.

The Pakistan Peoples Party-led government is set to complete its five-year term on March 16 and the caretaker administration is expected to be installed soon after.

The APML has also firmed up plans to challenge arrest warrants issued for Musharraf by several courts in connection with a raft of cases.

An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi declared Musharraf a fugitive and issued "perpetual arrest warrants" for him after he refused to cooperate with investigators probing the 2007 assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.

The same court has also directed authorities to freeze his assets and bank accounts.

Musharraf has announced plans to return to Pakistan several times in the past two years and analysts believe he may call off his planned homecoming in view of warnings from prosecutors that he would be arrested as soon as he arrives in the country.