Musharraf arrives in Islamabad after 4-yr exile

ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf arrived in Islamabad late Monday for the first time after he ended his over four-year self-exile and returned home on March 24, local media reported.

Musharraf's plane landed at Islamabad's international airport when paramilitary troops and policemen had been on alert in view of security concerns. The law enforcement agencies had stopped Musharraf's supporters to reach the airport to avoid any mismanagement.

The former president did not talk to the media and was taken in high security to his private home in Islamabad.

Dozens of Musharraf's supporters managed to reach the airport. However, the former president was secretly taken out of the airport due to security threats.

Musharraf is facing several cases including his government's failure to provide security to former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was killed in a suicide attack in 2007.

The court in Karachi has granted him protective bail until April 21. However the court has barred him from leaving the country without the court's permission.

The Interior Ministry on Saturday issued directives to the immigration authorities to put Musharraf's name on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Musharraf is now leading his own political party the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), and will contest for parliamentary seat in the May 11 elections.

The APML submitted his nomination forms to fight for the National Assembly seat from few constituencies.

Taliban militants have publicly threatened Musharraf as he had carried out military operations against them in the tribal regions and northwestern Swat valley.

Musharraf's policies, particularly joining the US-led coalition and giving Pakistani military bases to the US forces for attacks against the Afghan Taliban, had been highly controversial.

He ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008 and went into exile after his resignation in August 2008.