Mush to appear in court for Baloch leader’s murder
1 May 2014 12:16 AM GMT
Dismissing Gen. Musharraf’s plea for exemption from personal appearance, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa of the Balochistan High Court directed the provincial government to ensure 70-year-old Gen. Musharraf’s safety during the hearing on 19 May.
The Chief Justice said Gen. Musharraf who is in Karachi can seek exemption from appearing in person in the court after he has heard the charges against him in the murder case. Bugti, a powerful tribal leader, was killed during a security operation in Dera Bugti by security forces in 2006.
Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Quetta Judge Justice Anwar Kasi had dismissed Gen. Musharraf’s application for exemption from appearing in person, after which he had approached the Balochistan High Court.
ATC Quetta had issued five orders to Gen. Musharraf to appear in the case but he is yet to make an appearance. Gen. Musharraf has been named as an accused in the murder of the former Balochistan Chief Minister and Governor.
The charge sheet in the case has been submitted but a trial is yet to begin as Gen. Musharraf has never appeared in court for indictment. ‘If the charges were framed in the presence of the client then he would be at liberty to file application for exemption at a later stage,’ the court said.
Gen. Musharraf’s counsel Muhammad Ilyas Siddiqui stated that the former President anticipates a threat to his life from different organisations and that the trial judge should allow his exemption from personal appearance.
The Chief Justice said Gen. Musharraf who is in Karachi can seek exemption from appearing in person in the court after he has heard the charges against him in the murder case. Bugti, a powerful tribal leader, was killed during a security operation in Dera Bugti by security forces in 2006.
Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Quetta Judge Justice Anwar Kasi had dismissed Gen. Musharraf’s application for exemption from appearing in person, after which he had approached the Balochistan High Court.
ATC Quetta had issued five orders to Gen. Musharraf to appear in the case but he is yet to make an appearance. Gen. Musharraf has been named as an accused in the murder of the former Balochistan Chief Minister and Governor.
The charge sheet in the case has been submitted but a trial is yet to begin as Gen. Musharraf has never appeared in court for indictment. ‘If the charges were framed in the presence of the client then he would be at liberty to file application for exemption at a later stage,’ the court said.
Gen. Musharraf’s counsel Muhammad Ilyas Siddiqui stated that the former President anticipates a threat to his life from different organisations and that the trial judge should allow his exemption from personal appearance.
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