Unblock Musharraf’s passport, national identity card: Pakistan SC

Islamabad, June 11 (IANS) The Pakistan Supreme Court on Monday issued an order to unblock former President Pervez Musharraf’s passport and his computerised national identity card (CNIC) so that he can return to the country.

Earlier this month, the Interior Ministry asked the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports to carry out the suspensions, reports Dawn news.

"Why would you block the card? To give him a reason to not return?" the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar asked Nadra Chairman Usman Mobin, who was present at the hearing.

"Musharraf should return and face the cases against him."

The CJP reiterated his earlier order that Musharraf should not be arrested on his way to court from the airport, Dawn news reported.

The court also issued an order stating that a tribunal should be formed within two days to conduct the pending treason trial against Musharraf.

Musharraf, who is facing a high treason case, has been allowed by the Supreme Court to file nomination papers on the condition that he would personally appear before the court in Lahore on June 13, Dawn news reported.

He has been in Dubai since March 2016.