Pakistan

Pervez Musharraf acquitted in Akbar Bugti murder case

ATC Quetta also acquits former interior minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Shoaib Ahmed Nausherwani

Mohammad Zafar January 18, 2016

A file photo of Parvez Musharraf. PHOTO: FILE

QUETTA: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Quetta acquitted on Monday former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf in the case of the murder of Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) leader Nawab Akbar Bugti who was killed in a military operation in 2006.

The court also acquitted former federal home minister Aftab Khan Sherpao, and former provincial home minister Shoaib Nosherwani.

During the hearing, the court also rejected the request by Nawabzada Jamil Akbar Bugti, son of Akbar Bugti, to order exhumation of his father's body to ensure the body buried in Dera Bugti was that of his late father.

Pervez Musharraf indicted in Akbar Bugti murder case

Akbar Bugti was killed along with his 26 comrades during an operation in the mountains of Dera Bugti in August, 2006. Musharraf, who was president at the time, had directed the military operation.

Musharraf had constituted a federal negotiation team headed by Mushahid Hussain Syed, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and the late Makhdoom Amin Faheem in March 2005 that held numerous meetings with Akbar Bugti.

Murder case: Musharraf is seeking apology, says Bugti’s son

In January 2015, an ATC had indicted Musharraf in the case of the murder of JWP leader. Sherpao and Nausherwani were also indicted.

In December 2015, Jamil Bugti revealed Musharraf had sent an apology through his lawyer, urging to accept the killing of Akbar Bugti as God’s will.

“Our stance is clear – We won’t accept anyone’s apology regarding Nawab Bugti’s murder,” Jamil said talking to the media during Nawab Bugti murder case hearing at Anti-Terrorist Court.

COMMENTS (32)

Cool Henry | 8 years ago | Reply @Saad: In the US, anytime a white police officer shoots and kills an unarmed black man, he claims self-defense. Only time this self-defense theory is not applicable when there's actual video tape clearly proving otherwise. Seems like Pakistani judiciary has gotten the same disease - the bar for burden of proof is at Himalayan heights. Sad - but, unfortunately true.

Mohammad Faizan Farooq Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Pervez Musharraf must be congratulated for staying the course and returning to the country to face the charges rather than running away like Asif. Zardari and Nawaz Sharif. Many commenters fail to articulate that PM cannot be directly implicated in the cases because even in the case of Bugti he died on account of an explosion gone awry whilst Bhutto was assassinated due to her negligent aides. For a man who managed to create socio economic growth in the country we are rewarding him by dragging his name through the mud.

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Ali | 8 years ago | Reply Waste of time, they never get convicted. Above the law, no justice, nothing but a scam procedure.

Ali | 8 years ago | Reply Waste of time they never get convicted.

Blithe | 8 years ago | Reply @Aysha M: You must have been the court jester in musharraf's dictatorship . Musharraf is not here on his free accord; he is on the ECL list for breaking the constituency - a treasonable act. If he had the choice , he would take the next flight to his penthouse in dubai

Khan I | 8 years ago | Reply Acquittal of Pervez Musharaf in this case was expected, this trial was a farce and vindictive. If Musharaf can be accused of killing Akbar Bugti then President Mamnoon Hussain and PM Nawaz Sharif should also be charged for all the killings that happened in Police and Rangers encounters in Pakistan during their present regime.

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply @azmat: First of all, Bugti was fighting the armed forces meaning the state. The National army has no business in fighting the civilians and the nobility including tribal elders among them, within the frontiers of the land. What the Pakistan army has been persistantly doing on record against civilians with or without the approval of the civilian leadership, such a carnage has never been undertaken in history either by the colonialists or those who ruled before them barring Ashoka who was accused of committing a blood bath without exception. The Pakistanis must not forget that it is the USA administration which compelled former military General Parvez to surrender in favour of returning the Governance to a civilian Government. Rex Minor

Imran | 8 years ago | Reply It was a military action against a person on terrorism case. Tomorrow the families of terrorists killed in military action will file suits in the court against army chief. Will it be acceptable. Very justified verdict by the court. Well done judge sahib.

Syed | 8 years ago | Reply Though very late, yet for the first time Pakistani Court has done some thing which should be appreciated. Musharraf is Internationally respected leader, who was being humiliated by these fraud degree Pakistani Politician, with no knowledge of POLITICAL SCIENCE.

NKAli | 8 years ago | Reply @Ayesha M: Viva n bravo! Ayesha we share your thoughts, feelings, and support with you and all Mush's supporters. Salams to all.

Saad | 8 years ago | Reply @Adnan Siddiqi: Wow what a #$#$%# comparison. Bugti was fighting the state as was the Lal Masjid cleric. Bugti got what he instigated and the Lal Masjid cleric should be tried for taking hostages and mass murder.

ramdar | 8 years ago | Reply Akbar Bugti was killed in a Military operation ordered by Musharraf soon after negotiation meetings with government team. ''Was it a murder?"- depends on interpretation of law by ATC. It certainly gave a negative message to Baloch people & shows hazards of military dictatorship.

Ordinary Citizen | 8 years ago | Reply Good going, but a long way to go to expect the country at a state it was under the command of President Gen Musharaf. And by state I mean it for all the ordinary citizens of the motherland and not those who have been in power before and after that era !

azmat | 8 years ago | Reply @Saad: First of all, Bugti was fighting the armed forces meaning the state. With weapons and armed gunmen. he holed up in the mountains for months before getting killed. Secondly, there were Army officer of the rank of a Lt Col who lost their life in the operation, reportedly by the collapse of a purpose built cave in which the officers died with Bugti. So who should be blamed for the killing of those officers? if you start blaming the soldiers for every man they kill, then you should come out of our house to fight the terrorists as well because the soldiers wont fight for you for the fear of being indicted later.or the government should first receive the arrest warrant of the terrorists from the civil judge (impossible because they don't know who is fighting on the ground) before firing at a terrorist

Milind | 8 years ago | Reply @Aysha M - "Yes would like to have President Musharraf back but in a powerful role of a peace envoy leading Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to bridge differences in the muslim world" How can you trust a general to become a peace envoy especially when he backstabbed his PM, exceeded his brief by infiltrating his soldiers into a neighboring country under the guise of 'freedom fighters' and refused to except their bodies? Its like trusting the thief with the safe keys..

Tyggar | 8 years ago | Reply I always knew Musharraf was innocent and Akbar Bugti shot himself with a helicopter gunship

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply @Sunil: Got away with murder. Not too fast with your judgement Sir! The former Indian born military General of Pakistan is accused of committing a series of crimes against individuals and the institutions of the land, the pre-meditated murder of Mr Bugti being one of them. His acquital simply means that the prosecution could not prove the case against his persona. The ban on his travel outside the country remains and the courts will for long remain busy with him. Rex Minor

Malik Saab | 8 years ago | Reply ATCs are under the control of Pakistan Army. So you can never state that this decision is not unbiased.

salman | 8 years ago | Reply Very good news indeed.

Haji Atiya | 8 years ago | Reply @Sunil: We salute Gen Musharraf ! You should too, if you know what's good for you and Pakistan !

Aysha M | 8 years ago | Reply @Amir: Yes would like to have President Musharraf back but in a powerful role of a peace envoy leading Pakistan's diplomatic efforts to bridge differences in the muslim world, no leader of his stature,caliber, respect &trust available to Islamic countries

Ishrat salim | 8 years ago | Reply In sha Allah he will be acquitted in all other cases too.

Amir | 8 years ago | Reply The truth shall prevail and very rightly Musharraf has been acquitted. This gives hope to all Pakistani that he will soon be out of all the politically motivated cases against him. What Kayanni did and the way things are happening, his chances to get a place in active politics is improving. We want Musharraf back ASAP. Good Luck

Saad | 8 years ago | Reply This is sad reality of Pakistan.Bugti was killed in Bright sun shine by security forces, still Musharaf is not convicted.What in Pakistan will be consider as evidence?? No wonder,Model town incident will also have same fate even once this government will complete its tenure.

Malatesh | 8 years ago | Reply Shame on justice system in Pakistan.. Despite of having all the evidence court acquitted him.. Foreign occupation in Baluchistan should end.

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply Now Musharraf apologist shouldn't complain when the same judiciary acquits Moulvi Abdul Aziz of Lal Masjid.

Osman Ahmed Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Stale. Why does ET share news that I had predicted long time ago!

gambu | 8 years ago | Reply Good news.

Aysha M | 8 years ago | Reply @Sunil: shame on you

Wizarat | 8 years ago | Reply I wonder how many more PML N has against him. President Musharraf is a fighter and would win all. He won't run like some other politicians.

Aysha M | 8 years ago | Reply Unprecedented in the political history of Pak for a leader to return and face all politically motivated cases.So proud of President Musharraf, an honest,sincere upright leader

Sunil | 8 years ago | Reply Got away with murder.

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