Pak court exempts Musharraf from appearing in Bugti case
5 Feb 2015 11:39 PM GMT
The court in Balochistan’s provincial capital Quetta had charge-sheeted 71-year-old Musharraf last month for the 2006 killing of Bugti. The judge had ordered that the case would be heard on a daily basis from today onwards.
The court on Wednesday also expressed anger at Director General Balochistan Naseer Baloch for not submitting Musharraf’s medical report and adjourned the hearing till February 25.
Musharraf’s counsel had earlier submitted a medical report in the court, requesting the court to allow the former president exemption from appearance due to back pain.
Counsel Akhtar Shah said that Musharraf respects the court and wanted to appear before it but could not do so due to security concerns. Bugti’s son Jamil Akbar had nominated Musharraf, former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, former Governor of Balochistan Owais Ahmed Ghani, ex-interior minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and others for the murder.
Bugti, former chief minister of Balochistan and head of his tribe, was killed in 2006 in a military operation ordered by Musharraf who was president and army chief at the time.
His killing sparked nationwide protests and further fuelled an armed insurgency that began in 2004 in Balochistan. Two co-accused -- Musharraf’s then interior minister Aftab Khan Sherpao and ex-provincial home minister Shoaib Nusherwan -- were also indicted for their alleged role in the murder of the Baloch tribal leader.
Musharraf never appeared in the court during the entire legal process which has been in progress since 2009. He was also absent when the charge-sheet was read out in the court. The indictment was the fourth against him.
The ex-army chief is facing a slew of court cases after returning from five years of self-exile in Dubai to contest the general elections in 2013 which he lost.
The court on Wednesday also expressed anger at Director General Balochistan Naseer Baloch for not submitting Musharraf’s medical report and adjourned the hearing till February 25.
Musharraf’s counsel had earlier submitted a medical report in the court, requesting the court to allow the former president exemption from appearance due to back pain.
Counsel Akhtar Shah said that Musharraf respects the court and wanted to appear before it but could not do so due to security concerns. Bugti’s son Jamil Akbar had nominated Musharraf, former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, former Governor of Balochistan Owais Ahmed Ghani, ex-interior minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and others for the murder.
Bugti, former chief minister of Balochistan and head of his tribe, was killed in 2006 in a military operation ordered by Musharraf who was president and army chief at the time.
His killing sparked nationwide protests and further fuelled an armed insurgency that began in 2004 in Balochistan. Two co-accused -- Musharraf’s then interior minister Aftab Khan Sherpao and ex-provincial home minister Shoaib Nusherwan -- were also indicted for their alleged role in the murder of the Baloch tribal leader.
Musharraf never appeared in the court during the entire legal process which has been in progress since 2009. He was also absent when the charge-sheet was read out in the court. The indictment was the fourth against him.
The ex-army chief is facing a slew of court cases after returning from five years of self-exile in Dubai to contest the general elections in 2013 which he lost.
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