LONDON, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Former Pakistani President Pervez
Musharraf, now living in London, is guarded round-the-clock at a
taxpayer cost of nearly $42,000 a day, a London paper says.
Scotland Yard has assigned a 10-member team to protect
Musharraf, who has been living in a three-bedroom West London
apartment about four months.
The Times said while Musharraf pays for a small team of
retired Pakistani commandos from his own pocket, the Royal and VIP
Executive Committee decided to provide additional security.
The former military general became Pakistan's president in
1999 after a successful coup against the government of Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif. Musharraf resigned last year after losing in
general elections.
The Times report said Musharraf likes to dine at the
Dorchester Hotel and enjoys golf.
Britain's Guardian newspaper said he also plays bridge
regularly and being an accomplished Urdu singer, likes to host
musical evenings at his apartment.
The Times said in the past, Britain has been home to
dissidents, dictators and princes, many of whom received government
protection.
The Guardian report said it is not known how long Musharraf
plans to stay in London. He has insisted he is not in exile,
although in Pakistan, Sharif wants him tried for treason. However,
the report quoted experts as saying they don't believe he will face
trial any time soon.