ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s verbal request for release in a case pertaining to the murder of Baloch leader Akber Bugti, DawnNews reported.

A two-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, led the hearing on a bail request of the former army strongman.

During the hearing, the bench rejected Musharraf’s verbal request for release, saying that the complainant must be present in person before the court for its judgment.

Meanwhile, the court issued a notice to Jamil Bugti, son of Akber Bugti, on the request of Advocate General Balochistan Shakeel Baloch.

Musharraf’s counsel, Ibrahim Satti, presented his arguments before the bench, saying that the former president had decided to come to Pakistan voluntarily. He added that Musharraf had remained the president of Pakistan but due to rejection of bail in the Bugti case, he was under arrest upon which Justice Nasirul Mulk remarked that Satti could refer the case to High Court for another hearing on the matter.

Satti said it was his request that the court should announce its decision after undertaking a review of the law and the facts surrounding the case.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter until two weeks.

Balochistan nationalist leader Akbar Khan Bugti was killed in a cave on August 26, 2006 during a military crackdown ordered by Musharraf who was president and army chief at the time.

Bugti had led an armed campaign to press for provincial autonomy and a greater share of profits from Balochistan’s natural resources. The death of the Baloch chieftain sparked angry protests in the country.