Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was forced to flee a courtroom at the Islamabad High Court Thursday shortly after judges ordered his arrest, dealing a fresh blow to his fast-fading hopes of reviving his political career at next month’s general elections.

“Islamabad High Court has canceled Musharraf’s bail and ordered his arrest,” said Mohammad Amjad, secretary-general of Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League party.

He added that Musharraf’s lawyers would lodge an appeal against the arrest order at the Supreme Court later in the day.

Musharraf returned from almost four years of self-imposed exile in London and Dubai last month in the hope of winning a seat in the National Assembly at the May 11 polls.

Musharraf’s hopes of standing in the elections were dashed earlier this week when election officers barred him from standing, in part due to the various legal challenges he faces.

On Thursday, a judge ordered he be detained in connection with allegations he committed treason during his 2007 confrontation with the judges when he declared emergency rule, a move which violated the constitution.