The Pakistani Taliban says it will try to kill former president Pervez Musharraf when he returns to the country to take part in upcoming parliamentary elections.
In a video released Saturday, Taliban representatives said a hit squad has been prepared to assassinate Musharraf, who is expected to return to Karachi on Sunday after more than four years of self-imposed exile in London and Dubai.
While he was president, Musharraf angered the Taliban by maintaining close ties with the United States and backing its efforts to fight terrorism.
In Dubai on Saturday, Musharraf said he was granted bail to avoid being arrested upon his planned return home. He has faced arrest for his alleged involvement in the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
He denies involvement in the plot to kill her.
Musharraf had said several times that he would be returning to Pakistan, but never carried out those plans. On March 1, however, he pledged to return this month, as soon as a caretaker government is in place.
Pakistan’s parliament and federal and provincial governments completed their five-year constitutional term earlier this month. A caretaker government will steer the country until the parliamentary elections on May 11.
Musharraf has said he will lead his party, the All Pakistan Muslim League, in the elections.
The former Pakistani president, who took power in a coup in 1999, resigned in 2008. He left the country to avoid the possibility of arrest on charges linked to Bhutto's assassination.
In a video released Saturday, Taliban representatives said a hit squad has been prepared to assassinate Musharraf, who is expected to return to Karachi on Sunday after more than four years of self-imposed exile in London and Dubai.
While he was president, Musharraf angered the Taliban by maintaining close ties with the United States and backing its efforts to fight terrorism.
In Dubai on Saturday, Musharraf said he was granted bail to avoid being arrested upon his planned return home. He has faced arrest for his alleged involvement in the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
He denies involvement in the plot to kill her.
Musharraf had said several times that he would be returning to Pakistan, but never carried out those plans. On March 1, however, he pledged to return this month, as soon as a caretaker government is in place.
Pakistan’s parliament and federal and provincial governments completed their five-year constitutional term earlier this month. A caretaker government will steer the country until the parliamentary elections on May 11.
Musharraf has said he will lead his party, the All Pakistan Muslim League, in the elections.
The former Pakistani president, who took power in a coup in 1999, resigned in 2008. He left the country to avoid the possibility of arrest on charges linked to Bhutto's assassination.
