Musharraf ordered to appear in court for Bugti murder hearing

QUETTA: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Quetta has ordered former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf to appear before it on April 21 in a case relating to the murder of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti.

ATC Quetta 1 Judge Tariq Ahmed Kasi directed the former military dictator to appear before the court otherwise his bail would be cancelled.

"The court will issue arrest warrants against him if he fails to appear before it," counsel of Nawabzada Jamil Akbar Bugti, Sohail Rajput, told reporters while quoting the remarks of the judge during the hearing.

Meanwhile, former federal interior minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and former home minister Balochistan Mir Shoaib Nowsherwani appeared before the court in relation to the case.

The court ordered both former ministers to reappear before it on April 21st.

"We respect the court now and we will respect it in future," Mr. Sherpao told reporters after the hearing of the case.

The court also issued arrest warrants of Pervez Musharraf's guarantors, Rajput informed reporters.

"Investigation team is not fulfilling its responsibility with regards to probing the murder of Nawab Bugti," Rajput complained.

Nawabzada Jamil Akbar Bugti, the son of Nawab Akbar Bugti, had nominated Musharraf, former prime minister Shaukat Aziz and other high-ups in the murder of his father.

The Balochistan High Court had already issued arrest warrants of the accused persons.

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.

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Comments (15) Closed

SUNNY

Apr 07, 2014 12:34pm

I think we should let him go, let him go to see his mother

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Ghost

Apr 07, 2014 01:11pm

Musharraf should be given due punishment for this murder.

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Sam

Apr 07, 2014 01:52pm

Now we are getting somewhere.

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jdshami

Apr 07, 2014 01:57pm

Mush must be punished for it.

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naveen

Apr 07, 2014 02:14pm

Musharaff as General had ordered the murder of Bugti and has to be tried for murder and the militiary which committed this.

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Faisal

Apr 07, 2014 03:28pm

Will Bughti n co be brought to justice for the murder of officers and soldiers? Or they mean nothing to the state in front of a feudal lord?

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event horizon

Apr 07, 2014 04:19pm

I hope this order by the ATC is not on instructions from Federal government. Hawks in the government have seen Musharraf's name taken out of ECL. They may have asked other cases against Musharraf be taken up at this time. I am in favor of trial of Musharraf for Nawab Akbar Bugti's murder and role in Benazir's assassination. But I am strongly against troubling Musharraf for Oct 2007 step of removing Iftikhar Chaudhary from the post of CJP. In fact, Musharraf must be rewarded for vision that he used to remove a potential nuisance and obstacle from his way. But that obstacle caused all possible nuisance for an elected government. Sad history of Pakistan right after a successful lawyers' movement.

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zeeshan

Apr 07, 2014 04:34pm

@SUNNY: let each prisoner in pakistani jail booked in any crime whatsoever go first..on FIFO basis... btw who has stopped Dictator mushis brother and son to see their mother.why are they wandering around in California and new york if their mother is in that much critical health.

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amanullah rabbani

Apr 07, 2014 05:16pm

What about those people and army personal who were killed by Bugti and his rougue Army. Bugti on many occasions has admitted killing people by him self. Every person knows what kind of lawlessness prevails in Baluchistan under the patronage of Bugti and landlords like him? Everyone know why this military operation was started? SO how come this evel person is now a Martyr!!! Shame on Pakistani Judciary and Media!!!

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Naseer

Apr 07, 2014 05:16pm

We live in a strange country. Where the people who are fighting the country and killing its peaceful citizen are called Shaheed and government people who fight them to protect the country and its citizens are called traitors and are being held accountable for the terrorists that are killed. Oh, what a country.

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zainab

Apr 07, 2014 05:45pm

@Faisal: Looks like our corrupt politicians and judiciary like terrorists.

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Nazir

Apr 07, 2014 05:52pm

What kind of democracy pakistan is living in... This man is being asked to appear on the court for killing a terrorist... What answer this court or govt has for the Jawans who were killed by bugtis..

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Waqar Khan

Apr 08, 2014 11:54am

@Nazir: Now Pakistan is on the pathway for real democracy. Here in the US, even the Acting President being called by the court...so what's the problem? Like they say if you not a thief, don't shake. If Mushy said he is innocent and he had never directed to kill innocent person (You are Innocent until proven Guilty). Mushy should have no problem. America, which uses drones to kill people in Pakistan, couldn't act to kill it own Citizen in Pakistan, who is supporting Taliban, because under the US constitution, he is innocent, and killing of an innocent American, is a crime....

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assad

Apr 08, 2014 06:15pm

@naveen: Bugti was killed for picking up arms against the State of Pakistan. Anyone who does this should meet the same fate. We, the citizens of Pakistan, expect the state to do something about those who take matters into their own hands through force of arms. Just like Pakistani state is in the right in terms of fighting the Taliban, the very same applies to the murderous Baloch separatists and Bugti was one of them. Presidents, PM's and Chiefs of the armed forces should not need to appear in these kangaroo courts over bogus accusations. If they are made to appear in every silly case, it will erode the will of the leadership to take on the terrorists who harm our citizens and state. Musharraf had 10 layers of people between him and those who were involved in convincing Bugti to come out of his hideout. How Musharraf is responsible is beyond any sane mind. There is not a shred of evidence that can tie Musharraf to Bugti's suicide. The problem here is that this judge, and many others like him, is on a power trip because he gets to drag a former CoAS of the Pakistan Army into his court and stick his thumb at the Army. This idiot of a judge has no idea what a waste of resources it is to make Musharraf fly over to Balochistan to attend a 30 minute hearing. Musharraf could very easily do the same via a video conference with the court. It would be so much cheaper than having 1500 police deputed for his security an countless others involved in the logistics of his trip to a silly court hearing for a man, Bugti, who murdered his own at his whim and fought the state of Pakistan tooth and nail. The moral compass of Pakistanis is so off bearing that its not even funny any more.

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Zak

Apr 08, 2014 07:49pm

And they blew up a train in sibi, the terrorists are running scot free but the brave president who protected Pakistan from terrorists everywhere, is called to stand in court. This epitomizes the core problem in Pakistan. Principles of justice and governance are upside down. All these PML-N are in power because Musharaf allowed them back in and allowed them to stand in elections. He was a fair man.

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