Confirming the news, senior vice president of the party said that Musharraf will not be leaving the country for an indefinite time and he will oversee political activities of the party actively. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD: Former president Pervez Musharraf, who had returned from four years of self-exile in March only to run into legal trouble, will now be free to go anywhere as a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court has finally granted him bail in the Bugti murder case too.
Headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, the bench heard the case and granted bail to former army chief against two surety bonds of one million rupee each.
The bench, which also consisted of Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmani and Justice Mushir Alam, questioned the Prosecutor General Balochistan whether any evidence was found against Musharraf in the case.
In response, the prosecutor said that the camera footage showed that rockets had been fired to kill Bugti when Musharraf was the chief executive.
On this, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmani remarked that the allegations were baseless and the prosecutors had failed to present any substantial evidence against Musharraf.
The court asked the prosecutor to present evidence including details of where the murder was planned and the persons involved in the conspiracy. The investigator expressed his inability to do so, and the court granted bail to Musharraf.
At present, a two-member committee of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is collecting evidences against Musharraf for breaching his oath twice while putting the Constitution in abeyance.
Gen (retd) Musharraf was earlier granted bail in two other cases, Benazir Bhutto murder case and the case pertaining to the judges’ detention.
A close aide told The Express Tribune that he will soon be travelling to Dubai to pay a visit to his mother.
Musharraf, who also heads his All Pakistan Muslim League party, will also oversee its activities. Confirming the news, senior vice president of the party said that Musharraf will not be leaving the country for an indefinite time and he will oversee political activities of the party actively.
His counsel, Ibrahim Satti, had pleaded with the court that the former army chief had been under house arrest for the past six months while the others accused in the case had been granted bail. For security reason, Musharraf was confined to his luxurious Chak Shahzad farmhouse where he faced attack threat, as reported by Chief Commissioner Islamabad.
Meanwhile, in an official press release issued on Wednesday, Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) termed the court’s decision a ‘victory for truth’.
“It is a day of victory for the people of Pakistan... it is a day where justice seems to be done,” the release quoted APML Secretary General Dr Mohammad Amjad.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2013.
COMMENTS (18)
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@Imran Niaizi: you are love only with him,there are many more are ready to sacrifice their lives. because he proved he was not corrupte He was a real military man and brave leader.
Comparison, in regard to the political situation and economic condition of the country, forced us to see him a better ruler than those called democratic champion now days.
Congratulation sir , my minute contribulion to this end is on the record . Millions of Pakistani and Indians recognise your contribution in laying a path for peace in the region despite of Kargil war .
This is only a minor step, and my confidence in the judiciary will be restored only if the case is thrown out with prejudice. It should never have been registered in the first place.
I ask all the sincere Pakistani's who have shared their thoughts against Musharraf, Has any of the politician stayed/returned to Pakistan even when he had threats! Is anyone courageous enough to face the music like he did! All the big names would return home near elections and manipulate the innocent brains, some using religion and some using money! we need someone who could challenge the existing system that protects corrupt and mafia and introduce political reforms! Bravo man!
@usman: He clearly said in his book that only foreign nationals were handed over. These terrorists had bounty on their heads and money thus received went into the govt kitty. please get your facts straight before commenting!
Musharraf has made some mistakes and he seems to have the guts to say sorry on those mistakes to the nation.
Hip Hip Hip Hurry to Mr. Musharraf...May Allah Bless him.
If Musharaf leaves Pakistan, it will be a slap on the face of government and judiciary.
Our laws require proof. None was provided and bail was rightly granted. Musharraf's actions indicate that he is not guilty of the crimes he is accused of. It goes to his credit that he came back voluntarily. The law is taking its course and we should wait for the court to decide before making insulting remarks. Every citizen has a right to due process and we must protect this right.
Great leader.
President Musharraf is a big Asset for Pakistan.He is a world class leader Who is respected by the whole World.He can better serve Pakistan by isolating himself from local politics and play his role from outside as an ambassador of Pakistan and its people.
how stupid the people of country can be? Instead of recognizing Musharraf contribution we always put him down Mush is my hero and i love him
Beside Bugti's murder case, what about staging a military coup to take over the government by the barrel of gun from an elected government of Nawaz Sharif in 1999. Was that not a crime against the constitution and the State of Pakistan? Too bad this decision of the court is going to encourage another General waiting in the wings to over throw another democratically elected government because they can get away scott free any way. Sad day for the State of Pakistan and it's constitution.
That is a joke. What is 1 million rupee surety for him. Not a million dollar will hurt him. Earned a lot of money by handing over our countrymen to other countries.
Great to here he will return! I wonder what a drama any other politician would have created.