Ex Pakistan leader’s $1,000 ‘dinner date’ gig sold out

An event offering fans dinner and handshake opportunities with former Pakistan president and Dubai resident General Pervez Musharraf for US$1,000 a piece has reportedly sold out.

An advertisement on ticketing website EventBrite.com entitled ‘A Unique Opportunity to Travel with General Musharraf to Pakistan’ touted a number of packages with Musharraf, president of Pakistan from 2001 to 2008, starting from a handshake and photograph for US$250.

For US$2,500, buyers were given the chance to travel from Dubai to Pakistan with Musharraf for a dinner and reception in the general’s home country. However, according to the website listing, all hospitality packages involving Musharraf have sold out entirely.

Musharraf, who seized power in Pakistan in a military coup d'état in 1999 and survived numerous assassination attempts, recently announced that he would be returning to the country later this month in time for parliamentary elections.

He was forced to step down from power after imposing a state of emergency in 2008 and was subsequently impeached, leading to three years of self-imposed exile in Dubai.

Musharraf, who has not said whether he will once more seek the presidency, could face arrest in Pakistan over allegations he did not provide adequate security for former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in the run-up to her assassination in 2007.

The hospitality events involving Musharraf are set to take place on March 16, although Reuters reported on Tuesday evening that the general’s return to Pakistan had been delayed until March 24.