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Travel like a VIP with Musharraf

Pakistan’s former president General Pervez Musharraf is offering the general public an opportunity to dine and travel with him during his visit to Pakistan where he plans to contest the upcoming general elections — all for $2,500, according his official Facebook page.

For those who cannot afford to travel and dine, there are three other levels of participation available under the event entitled: ‘A unique opportunity to travel with Gen Musharraf to Pakistan’. The event has been created on the ticketing website Eventbrite and linked to Musharraf’s official FB page.

A UAE-based spokesperson for the All Pakistan Muslim League, the party that Musharraf heads said: “The event has been organised by the US chapter and is being done on an individual level. We are not coordinating anything from here at present.”

One can either meet and dine with him at a reception in Dubai on the eve of his departure plus have a photo clicked with him for $1,000 or can meet him at the reception (no dinner) and have a photo taken for $500. A photo opportunity only is also available for $250, says the website.

The event says that for those registering and paying $2,500, a confirmed one-way seat will be available on the plane that will be carrying Musharraf from Dubai to Pakistan. It does not mention which city the ex-president will be travelling to.

Another event created on the same website also offers free entry to the ‘VIP enclosure’ to receive and greet Musharraf in Pakistan.

The event was created on his Facebook page earlier on Sunday and before the end of the day, over 8,500 people had ‘confirmed’ they were going with him.

Though the event mentions a date of March 16 and 17, a source from his party said that Musharraf will travel as per the schedule announced during a Press meet earlier this month. “He had announced that he will travel within a week of the appointment of a caretaker government in Pakistan to take part in the elections,” said the source. On March 16, Pakistan’s assemblies are expected to be dissolved and a caretaker government appointed to oversee the general elections 2013.

The ex-president, who has been in self-exile since 2008, had made a similar announcement last year but delayed his return after the Pakistan government warned that he would be arrested upon his return.

Musharraf faces two court warrants for his arrest in connection with the 2006 death of Akbar Bugti and the 2007 assassination of ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Earlier this month, Musharraf had announced that he was ready to face the courts.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com