Islamabad: A Pakistani court will take up tomorrow a petition asking authorities to restrict former President Pervez Musharraf from travelling abroad and to register an FIR against him over his role in the military operation inside the Lal Masjid last year.

Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Aslam of the Islamabad High Court will hear the writ petition that asks the authorities to place on the Exit Control List (ECL) the names of Musharraf and those who allegedly ordered the military action against the radical elements holed up inside the Lal Masjid.

The petition was filed by Defence of Human Rights Society Chairman Khawja Khalid, who urged the court to direct police to register an FIR against Musharraf, former Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and senior police officers of Islamabad.

Khalid claimed Musharraf and Sherpao could flee Pakistan and their names should be placed on the ECL along with those of other respondents. He alleged these people were responsible for the "murder of hundreds of innocent people inside Lal Masjid".

He said an attempt was made to register an FIR against these persons at a police station in Islamabad but officials refused to do so. Later, he took the matter to the District and Sessions Judge of Islamabad who too, he claimed, refused to hear the case.

Over 100 people were killed when army troops stormed the Lal Masjid in July last year following a prolonged stand-off with militants and extremists holed up inside the mosque in the heart of Islamabad.
Source : PTI