US withdraws former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's security & protocol

The US administration has withdrawn the security and protocol given to former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf after a UN commission report blamed him for not providing adequate protection to slain former premier Benazir Bhutto.

But in contrast, Britain and the UAE have beefed up his security in light of threats following the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

The US administration withdrew 67-year-old Musharraf's security and protocol after a UN commission's report on former premier Benazir Bhutto's assassination blamed the military ruler for failing to provide her adequate security.

Musharraf is treated like an ordinary citizen who has to join queues at the immigration counter in airports and undergo a thorough body search at the departure lounge, The News daily quoted diplomatic sources in Washington as saying.

"Musharraf, in the past, would have his immigration process expedited after landing at US airports," said a diplomatic source at the Pakistani embassy in Washington.

Instead of waiting in line, the American protocol staff would do this on Musharraf's behalf.

"It has been stopped now," the source said.

When Musharraf departs from the US, he stands in line, takes off his shoes and belt, has his hands up for a thorough search and only then is cleared for check-in, said a source.

On the other hand, Britain and the UAE have increased his security cover.

The reason for enhancing Musharraf's security in these two countries is the threats he has been receiving after the killing of bin Laden, according to his spokesman Chaudhry Fawad.

Musharraf, who has been living in self-exile outside Pakistan since 2009, is usually based in London and frequently travels to Dubai.

Fawad claims Musharraf is the only foreign leader in Britain who is provided more security than that granted to former premier Tony Blair.

Adding to Musharraf's woes, a court conducting the trial of five suspects charged with involvement in Benazir Bhutto's assassination on Monday declared him a "proclaimed offender" or fugitive for failing to cooperate with investigators.

On the other hand, Musharraf has started efforts to find new political allies for his All Pakistan Muslim League party and Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf is one of them.

Khan's party has instructed its chapters in Western countries not to speak against Musharraf or organise any protests against him.

This fact was confirmed by a spokesman for Khan's party.

"We want the party's overseas organisations to remain focused on relatively more important issues. Unnecessary meddling must be restrained," Umar Sarfraz Cheema said.

Khan was recently gifted a puppy by Musharraf, who often used to criticise the cricketer-turned-politician.

The puppy was born at a kennel at Musharraf's farmhouse in Islamabad.