Musharraf&#039s life in danger aide says after blast

(MENAFN- Arab News) Islamabad: pakistan's former military ruler pervez musharraf who is on trial for treason narrowly escaped what police called an assassination attempt as a roadside bomb went off shortly before his convoy was due to pass early thursday

The bomb was planted on musharraf's route from an army hospital in rawalpindi where he has been staying since january to his home on the outskirts of islamabad. it went off at around 2:00 am (2100 gmt wednesday)

Nobody was injured and there have so far been no claims of responsibility

"four kilograms (nine pounds) of explosive device planted in a pipeline under a bridge exploded around 20 minutes before the former president was supposed to cross the spot" senior police official liaqat niazi said

The blast occurred at the faizabad interchange which lies at the boundary of the two cities and destroyed a footpath around two metres (seven feet) wide

Niazi said musharraf was then taken home via an alternative route

Muhammad naeem a spokesman for the islamabad police confirmed the incident saying a bomb disposal squad had cordoned off the area after the blast and searched for additional explosives

"nobody was injured in the blast" he said adding musharraf was the intended target

Musharraf who led pakistan from 1999 to 2008 returned from self-imposed exile in march last year to fight in general elections but was barred from taking part and has faced a barrage of legal cases including treason

The taliban also vowed to send a squad of suicide bombers to kill him and security threats have prevented musharraf from appearing at all but two of his treason hearings

It was the fourth apparent attempt on the ex-general's life with the first three occurring while he was in office

Prior to his hospitalization for a heart condition several bombs were discovered by officials near his villa

Some commentators in the domestic media said those explosives may have been planted by insiders in order to exaggerate the threat to musharraf's life and expedite his safe passage out of the country through a behind-the-scenes deal

But a spokesman for the ex-general said thursday he was in "real danger"

"musharraf's life is in real danger from the threat of extremist terrorist groups" raza anjum a london-based aide told afp in an email

"he is number one on the terrorists' hit list. we call upon the government of pakistan to ensure that those who perpetuated this planned assassination attempt are brought to justice" he added

On monday a special court indicted musharraf for treason in what was seen as a milestone for civilian authority in a country long dominated by the army

The charges relate to musharraf's 2007 imposition of emergency rule which came as the supreme court was due to rule on the validity of his re-election as president

Treason carries the maximum penalty of death but some analysts were sceptical of whether the government would allow the trial to be seen through to its completion and risk a greater clash with the military

Musharraf had also sought permission to leave the country to see his ailing mother in the united arab emirates leading to renewed speculation that a deal which would allow all sides to save face was imminent

But the government on wednesday refused to end a travel ban preventing musharraf from leaving the country

"the interior ministry has sent a written reply to musharraf refusing to lift travel bans as there are a number of cases against him" an official of the interior ministry said

Musharraf was believed to be keen to return from hospital to his comfortable villa in the scenic bani gala suburb of islamabad

Ahmad raza kasuri a member of his legal team told reporters that musharraf had discharged himself

"he left the afic at his own request and was with his son bilal" he said

The first major attempt on musharraf's life came in december 2003 when a powerful bomb went off minutes after his highly guarded convoy crossed a bridge in rawalpindi

Days later he survived another attempt by two suicide bombers which left 16 people dead

In july 2007 an unknown group fired a 7.62 submachine gun at musharraf's plane as it took off from a runway in rawalpindi.