The PPP on Monday filed three appeals before the Lahore High Court's Rawalpindi bench, challenging the verdict passed by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in the Benazir Bhutto murder case.

The appeals, filed by Barrister Latif Khosa on behalf of PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, ask the court to announce a punishment for retired Gen Pervez Musharraf in accordance with the ATC verdict.

The ATC, in its ruling on August 31, had directed authorities to seize Musharraf's properties and issue perpetual arrest warrants for the former dictator, while also declaring him an absconder in the case.

"In an email, Benazir Bhutto had told [American journalist and lobbyist] Mark Siegel about the threats made to her life under Musharraf," the appeal states.

In a second appeal, the court has been called upon to change the sentence given to police officers involved in the case.

Saud Aziz, who was police chief of Rawalpindi when Bhutto was assassinated in 2007, and Khurram Shahzad, a former Superintendent of Police at Rawal Town, were each awarded 17 years in prison.

The appeal points out that punishment for murder in the Constitution is death sentence and therefore, the police officers should be given the same.

The third appeal asks the court to award death sentence to the five Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan suspects who were acquitted by the ATC.

The five TTP suspects — Rafaqat Hussain, Husnain Gul, Sher Zaman, Aitzaz Shah and Abdul Rashid — were cleared of all charges in the murder trial.

The appeal states that Shah was given the benefit of being underage in the verdict; however, he, too, should be given the death sentence.

Bhutto was assassinated during a public gathering at Rawalpindi's Liaquat Bagh on Dec 27, 2007.

Opinion

Editorial

Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...
Kurram ceasefire
Updated 26 Nov, 2024

Kurram ceasefire

DESPITE efforts by the KP government to bring about a ceasefire in Kurram tribal district, the bloodletting has...
Hollow victory
26 Nov, 2024

Hollow victory

THE conclusion of COP29 in Baku has left developing nations — struggling with the mounting costs of climate...
Infrastructure schemes
26 Nov, 2024

Infrastructure schemes

THE government’s decision to finance priority PSDP schemes on a three-year rolling basis is a significant step...