"He has been formally arrested in the Bugti murder case," Musharraf's lawyer Ahmed Raza Kasuri confirmed. PHOTO: REUTERS/ FILE
ISLAMABAD: Former president Pervez Musharraf has been formally arrested on suspicion of Akbar Bugti's murder despite winning bail in two other cases dating back to his 1999-2008 rule, a lawyer said Friday.
Musharraf was head of state when the main rebel leader in the southwestern province of Balochistan, Bugti, died during an army operation in August 2006.
Musharraf, who returned from four years of self-imposed exile in March, has been under house arrest at his villa on the edge of Islamabad since April 19.
"He has been formally arrested in the Bugti murder case," his lawyer Ahmed Raza Kasuri told AFP.
"An anti-terrorism court has put him on a 14-day judicial remand... He will remain in custody in his Islamabad house," Kasuri added.
Kasuri said visiting police officers from Quetta questioned Musharraf and completed the paperwork on Thursday.
"Musharraf had to appear in court in Quetta but for security reasons the police team from Quetta came here to Islamabad," Kasuri said.
Mohammad Nadeem, a member of the Quetta police team, confirmed the formal arrest.
Musharraf is barred from leaving the country, but his legal team is hopeful of getting him bail in the Bugti case and permission for him to go abroad.
The two other cases against him are conspiracy to murder former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and his sacking of judges in 2007.
The Supreme Court is hearing a separate petition from lawyers demanding that Musharraf be tried for treason for sacking judges in November 2007.
In Pakistan only the state can initiate charges of treason, which can carry the death penalty.
Bugti led an armed campaign to press for provincial autonomy and a greater share of profits from natural resources in Baluchistan.
The death of the colourful, British-educated chieftain sparked angry protests in the country.
Opposition leaders at the time accused the Musharraf government of targeting him.
At least seven soldiers and 17 tribal insurgents were also killed during fighting and air strikes.
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Come September Zardari completes his term. The army chief retires soon after. Iftikhar Chowdry with his enormous whiskers would be lurking in the background with quite a few ropes in his hand, will change the rules of the game, before the year is out. Musharraf is being played like a mouse before the cat eats it. He could be privy to such information which the Sultans of Islamabad would not risk of it being sung in any courtroom. . Why did Gen Pasha take IK around to meet some people who matter, the one-man party has risen suddenly to the forefront. Gen Gul's ex-lackey feels tempted to swallow that big bite he has taken. But NS ain't no fool. . After the summer when the autumn leaves start falling some other things would do the same. We will have a very eventful post summer season.
There is nothing going to be happened to Musharraf because all the allegations and accusations against Musharraf are baseless and one day Insha Allah Almighty Musharraf shall be released from every allegation and accusation.....
Democracy of our country has never been able to deal with the 'Fuedals' who murder, torture and ill-treat poor, innocent and the helpless in their villages?
Nation must wake up and understand the real picture who is a true Pakistani.
Everyone should know what that state of affairs has been in DeraBugti and Sui, Baluchistan.
A genuine Politician in making!
A very nice decision.Musharaf is a trouble maker and a lier.
Who will be arrested for the killing of Pathans and boloch in the ongoing military operations. Judiciary at its vindictive best.
@RB Mian:
nonsense. his behaviour after this eulogy you have posted belies a man who was pro-pakistan. he boasted on live TV of killing SSG commandos, a crime in any civilized country by itself. the man was not 'killed.' this word and this perception is so wrong and our media and country bases its judgements not on facts but hearsay and rumors. the actuality is that several army officers died with him in a cave. the cave collapsed and everyone inside was crushed. that is not the definition of killing. so please everyone stop using this word. he died as a result of his carelesseness and recklesness. the man initiated armed rebellion, blew up pylons, held the government hostage. the reason he rebelled was because the government under musharraf stopped the age old tradition of paying royalties from the area to the tribal chieftains, half of which these corrupt animals spent on themselves and their alcohol and womanizing. the other half presumably they spent on their people, but we all know that to be false as well. so really the full amount went to their bank accounts, so that they could study at oxford and womanize, while the people in their village and clan were subjected to torture and physical slavery. this is the country we want? the man wanted to die, he got what he wanted. no one in balochistan is crying over him right now. the people calling for justice have an axe to grind against musharraf, and God willing musharaf will come up on top after the lies are exposed.
@aaaaa: And what had this Sardar & Nawab Bugti stood for before 1947 and since? Didn't the man subjugate and terrorize the people who he treated as his personal property, actually chattel slaves? Come on stop pretending ignorance about this man's tyranny. His demise is a grat relief for the people of Dera Bugti and Pakistan, a good riddance, if you ask those who suffered under his despotic rule there. Frankly, all such tyrans should have been taken care of long before this by all those governments in Pakistan who were under legal obligation to provide protection to all Pakistani citizens irrespective of their place of domicile or ethnicity. Doesn't our constitution gurantees freedom to all our citizens, do all our citizens have freedom under such tyrans like this Sardar.
he is slowly getting bail in all cases . I think all these is an eye wash soon we will see that he will get bail from this case and he would be free man .
Why? Is killing a terrorist is a crime in Pakistan?
@Baloch, which law of pakistan? I cant see that law?Is there any law in Pakistan?
even though im a strong musharraf supporter, this is a slap in the face of those who insisted that the army or musharraf specifically will never submit themselves to the law. well, here is the COAS willingly submitting himself to the majesty of law. let justice prevail. however, justice should also be SEEN prevailing. as of now, that does not seem to be the case. revenge and vindication seems to be the order of the day. we should recognize this and speak against it if we are truly a nation that cares about our international relevance and image.
and what is this then ..http://derabugti.blogspot.se/..the way he was killed might not see as appropriate but did you have another choice..did he ever let his own people to be educated. if he had money why he didnt do any development project....a serious question mark..
I can imagine a pictureof Mr Bugti welcoming Quaid e Azam in Quetta and then him persuading Khan of Qallat to make Qallat state a part of Pakistan despite the resistance from Khan's younger brother. You killed a Pro Pakistan leader among top Nawabs of Balochistan who always stood with Pakistan no matter it was Ayyub Khan or Bhutto. Mr Musharraf you deserve punishment for your stubbornness, arrogance, lack of understanding of ground realities during your tenure as Chief executive of Pakistan. Baluchistan is in turmoil since the death of Akbar Bugti. If your justifications were true then why there is so much anarchy in Balochistan?
Baluchistan issue is more volatile and this issue of Bugti murder may just be a charade to keep real issues out of site... may be.... bugti may have been a killer himself in which case head of our state had the right to bring him to justice... was bugti running amok... if yes then the way he was killed may also be right... I didn't like Musharraf and his clowns much but his indictment to make certain tribesmen and their chiefs happy who themselves have brought Baluchistan to where it stands will definitely be unjust.
ET you let the cat out of the bag, "his legal team is hopeful of getting him bail in the Bugti case and permission for him to go abroad." He is going to fly the coop.
No matter in how many cases General (R) Pervez Musharraf is arrested and produced in the Court of Law, but sooner or later he is going to get bail in all the cases.
Let me assure that State is not going to initiate treason charges against Musharraf, as Mr. Nawaz Sharif has already pardoned him for the military coup in which Nawaz Government was ousted on October 12, 1999 by General Musharraf.
We must appraise Mr. Nawaz Sharif for his kind hearted action, otherwise, Musharraf put Mian Brothers in jail and Nawaz Sharif was implicated in Plane case of Musharraf and was awarded death sentence.
Thanks to Saudi Arabia who took Nawaz Sharif and his family out from Pakistan, otherwise, like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif would have also been hanged to death by another military dictator - Musharraf.
After Nawaz Sharif took the oath for the 3rd time Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Chief of the Army Staff met Nawaz Sharif at Prime Minister House and requested Nawaz Sharif not to initiate treason charges against Musharraf, as once Musharraf had been the boss of General Kiyani.
This is a difference between a politician and military dictator.
Musharraf put Nawaz Sharif in jail and Al-Might Allah put Musharraf in jail.
I am no fan of Musharraf but Bugti was a trouble maker as well. Getting rid of all chaudhry's, sardars, and waderas is a must for the Pakistani nation since these guys do not want the people under their tutelage to progress. They prefer them as "slaves".
A good day in Pakistan history when judiciary ensured that everyone is the same in front of the law.
His act of killing Bugti was purely dictator's
@fahaad:
actions never happen in a vacuum. history always provides a context. if you are ignorant about what Bugti stood for since 1947 (and even before that) please refrain from offering ignorant opinions.
Musharaf along with all "Commandos" involved in the operation against Shaheed Bugti should face court and law of Pakistan ...
Oh please! This case has no standing. Otherwise all Core Commanders, Army Chiefs, Presidents, and Prime Ministers will be hauled up for any executive order. Bugti lead an "armed" struggle. Last I recall an armed struggle has been declared terrorism. Bugti met his deserves fate for spreading militancy and terrorism. These courts are making the Pakistani legal system a joke!
A sad day in pakistani history.
"Akbar Bugti died during an army operation in August 2006 when Musharraf was head of state."
Just like Kasuri's father was killed when Z.A. Bhutto was PM.
Good news, let justice prevail.
he was against the feudal system,was this his fault?killing the killer is a fault?where on earth we this happens