Pakistan court extends Musharraf's custody

A Pakistani court ordered former military ruler Pervez Musharraf to be remanded in custody for two weeks yesterday, but he will be allowed to stay at his plush villa, officials said.
His arrest Friday ahead of key elections relates to Musharraf's decision to sack judges when he imposed emergency rule in November 2007, a move that hastened his downfall.
"The court has sent General Musharraf on judicial remand for two weeks," Muhammad Amjad, spokesman for Musharraf's All Pakistan Muslim League party, told reporters.
"We had requested the court to send General Musharraf on judicial remand, so that we can go to higher courts for relief," he added.
Musharraf appeared before the anti-terrorism court amid tight security, as hundreds of lawyers opposing him scuffled with security personnel and shouted slogans against the former ruler.
He had spent the night at police headquarters in Islamabad, officials said, and was moved back there after his court appearance.
Musharraf will be allowed to return to his palatial villa, saving him the hardships of a Pakistani prison where police said he would face "security threats".
"Islamabad administration has declared General Musharraf's house a sub-jail and he will be kept there during the remand period and all jail rules will apply to the building," a senior police official told AFP.
Musharraf was taken into police custody after being arrested on Friday, an unprecedented move against a former army chief of staff.
The Supreme Court yesterday named a three-judge panel to resume hearing from Monday petitions seeking Musharraf's trial under the High Treason Act.
He also faces charges of conspiracy to murder opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in 2007 and over the death of a rebel leader during a 2006 military operation.