Pak police defuse car bomb near Musharraf`s farmhouse

Islamabad: Pakistani police on Tuesday said they had defused a car bomb near former President Pervez Musharraf`s sprawling farmhouse here, which has been declared a sub-jail for his detention.

The car, fitted with about 50 kg of explosives, was intercepted this evening, police told the media. The car was found parked about 150 metres from the main gate of Musharraf`s five-acre farmhouse at Chak Shahzad on the outskirts of the federal capital. No arrests were made in connection with the incident. Footage on television showed a large pile of explosives that were removed from the white Suzuki car, which was taken to a nearby police station. Policemen could be seen removing more explosives that were fitted around the car`s engine. Police officials said the car had contained an estimated 40 kg to 50 kg of explosives. They said the explosives had been defused by a bomb disposal squad. Musharraf`s farmhouse was declared a sub-jail last week after the Islamabad High Court revoked his bail and ordered his arrest over the detention of more than 60 judges during the 2007 emergency. The banned Pakistani Taliban have threatened to target 69-year-old Musharraf. A Taliban spokesman has said that a special squad of suicide bombers and snipers has been formed to attack Musharraf. Officials have said the threat faced by Musharraf was one the main reasons for the decision to detain him at his farmhouse instead of sending him to prison. PTI