Pakistan

Benazir assassination case: FIA awaits details of Musharraf’s assets

ATC has ordered confiscation of former president’s property.

Asad Kharal June 30, 2011

LAHORE:

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is still waiting for revenue officials to submit details of movable and immovable assets of former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, who has been declared proclaimed offender by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in the Benazir Bhutto murder case, despite court orders to confiscate his property, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Request for details of Musharraf’s property was forwarded to the members of boards of revenue of all the four provinces by the counter-terrorism wing of the FIA which had asked that the information be compiled on a priority basis.

The ATC had given the FIA until June 25 to comply with its orders and seize the former president’s property.

The FIA prosecutors had requested the court to issue orders to confiscate Musharraf’s moveable and immovable property after he failed to appear before the court on the previous hearing.

The ATC special judge had directed the SHO City, Rawalpindi and collector, Islamabad, to submit the record.

Investigators have alleged that the Musharraf regime had failed to provide adequate security to former premier Benazir Bhutto upon her return to Pakistan from self-exile. She was killed in a gun-and-bomb attack minutes after addressing an election rally in Rawalpindi, on December 27, 2007.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (23)

Fawad ch | 13 years ago | Reply Some of the comments claims Pervez Musharaff created the mess by joining USA and allies in war against terror,now I understand the readers of Express tribune have more acumen then readers of Nawa-e-Waqt however,some of above proved me wrong. What i understand Musharaff or Pakistan never asked OBL and Al-Qaida to go and bomb Twin Towers we did our best to persuade Taliban to de-link themselves from Al-Qaida the genius Mullah Omer never listened to Pakistan. Now what were the other choice Musharaff should have sided with Taliban and ensure Talibanisation of Pakistan or ensure same fate as of tora bora for Lahore and Karachi? No sir what Mushraff did was in the best interest of Pakistan and even now our interest lies in fighting terrorism as our own war.

Bachoo | 13 years ago | Reply What about all the insecurity and loss of lives and blood shed during the current regime?? Then the current regime should be held accountable for the loss of thousands of lives, property and total security lapses, killings and chaos through out Pakistan as never before! This could open up the greatest Pandora's Box for this so called current democratic Regime. Just Think Think!!

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MI | 13 years ago | Reply No one can stop Musharraf coming back and taking part in politics. His only crime is that he is committed to Pakistan and the people living in it. God bless him and keep him safe from all consparitors.

ehsanali | 13 years ago | Reply @Lobster: Please elaborate the mess he created.

Cautious | 13 years ago | Reply Last I recall the Pakistani people are still paying for his protection ---- maybe you ought to put that on his "asset" list.

adnan | 13 years ago | Reply The case looks less like BB murder trial and more get musharraf in court.. where ppl rot in jail these judges are busy only getting musharraf in court.. every one knws he cannot be convicted in this case.. so please re label the case as "get musharraf in the court case"

Lobster | 13 years ago | Reply @Dr. Saleem Siddiqi: Even if you can't see till now the mess he has created just for prolonging his rule, you better stay there where you are now (South Africa)!

grinz09 | 13 years ago | Reply @Fawad ch: If my memory serves me right I remember Benazir was NOT declared absconder in the cases against her due to the very same section 93. Good luck Sir!

Bashir Warriach | 13 years ago | Reply @Fawad Ch. You put very concrete arguments. Infact in our political cosmos pervaiz mussharaf deosnt fit. He is not a defaulter. He is not a landlord he is not a billionire, he doesnot own shugar mills and steel mills. Moreover things which make him further conspecuous is that in his tenure he was investing on the future of Pakistan in the Form of HEC and dams etc. He was not looting poor masses of Pakistan by increasig oil and gas and electricity prices on monthly bases. In his tenure food , and dollar prices sustained. So he doesnot fit in our political communinity. All of our politicians are standing united against him as he attempted to change the meaning of politics, the public is familliar with.

Ishrat Salim | 13 years ago | Reply If BB murder was a security lapse...then what about murder of Gov Taseer & Mr Bhatti & numerous other citizens..?? it is the govt ( President & the PM ) who shud also be held responsible for the murder & killings of innocent citizens of this country day in & day out....is the govt providing adequate security to the people of Pakistan as per constitution...?? is this justice...?? Musharraf shud be brought to justice so wud the President & the PM...?? why discremination & double standard...??

Q | 13 years ago | Reply This is a clear case of victimization against the great leader. Long Live Musharraf.

Mohammed Arif | 13 years ago | Reply The judge who is attending Musharraf's case should be kicked off from the present system of judiciary as he ignorned the statement of Benazir's protocol officer statement in this case. He ignored president's Zardar's statement publicly in which he said I know who mardered Benazir, he ignorned confession of Baitulla Masud for taking responsibility of attack, he ignored the arrested of persons in custody already, he ignorned the murder of Chief Security officer in Karachi, he ignorned the fact that why AR Malik and Babar Awan used covering car of Benazir by force and went to Zardari house rather than follow the car of Benazir to hospital. Chief Justice should take a note of such ugly movement of his judiciary movement who are causing a bad name. Actually two big parties have 1 point agenda to keep away musharraf from Politics and it is a message to him not to come Pakistan. General Musharra just half line statement that DID I ASKED HER TO COME OUT OF CAR ROOF? is enough.

Frank | 13 years ago | Reply Few people have damaged Pakistan as much as Pervaiz Musharraf. He should stay in England now and just leave us alone.

Fawad ch | 13 years ago | Reply The case against former President is a classic case of political victimization,these so called Democrats are using state apparatus to pursue PM to reconsider his decision of entering into Pakistan politics. The case is rubbish on two scores first the allegation is absurd FIA concludes enough security was not provided to BB,how can you make president liable for a security lapse. Murtaza Bhutto was murdered when BB was PM of Pakistan. Several Presidents were assassinated Pervez Musharaff was himself subjected to gruesome attacks infact the only difference between attacks on him and the attack in which BB was killed was that when attack was executed Pervez Mushraff was inside his car whereas BB was outside and protection of bullet proof was not available to her. Coming to legality of the case under section 93 onwards criminal Procedure Code if accused is out of country and case is initiated against him he cannot be declared absconder. However,prosecution and judge both violated the whole procedure on oressure fron their high ups. At the tie when ppp wants a review of ZAB case on the ground of victimization they themselves are pursuing same policy.As far judiciary is concerned we all know how "Azad" judiciary is so we will fight this case not in courts but in public domain,people are the best judge.

khan | 13 years ago | Reply To begin with there must be at least five residential plots and a commercial property (it was in Lahore if memory serves me correctly) handed over to him at a ridiculously low price as part his birth right as a Pakistani General. These must be worth around Rs 50 crore at least. Then there must be a sizable parcel of agricultural land that went with his entitlement as well.

grinz09 | 13 years ago | Reply @Maria: It seems like a case of sour grapes! @Dr. Saleem Siddiqi: Dr. Saleem Siddiqi, you said it very well. Agree 100%!

Kazmis | 13 years ago | Reply Good! Musharraf does not deserve respect and honor. It is his fate brought him here perhaps genetically he was not up to the Mark. Otherwise he could lead a respectful life and could do a lot to for people to be remembered with dignity in the history.

Raj | 13 years ago | Reply Who killed ZAB? Who killed ZIA? Who killed BB? Who will kill MUSH? VVIPS are not safe in Pakistan, think of the safety of AAM AADMI.

Dr Kamran Baluch | 13 years ago | Reply This will be seen as Political Victimization , as its obvious he had no truck with Benezer murder. It might make people sympathize with Musharraf.

Maria | 13 years ago | Reply The less we hear about this former dictator the better. Let Pakistan move on and let's forget him with the past. I am sure that Egyptians are tired about hearing about their dictator Mubarak and the Tunisians are tired about hearing about their dictator Ben Ali.

Dr. Saleem Siddiqi | 13 years ago | Reply This is another moves, jointly by PPP and PML-N (agreed) to keep away Musharaf from politics and more especially from participating in the ensuing Elections. Musharaf has proved a much better leader that the present greed of politicians and inshallah will overcome this temporary phase of opposition by his common enemy and will return home with much fan and fare to participate in the Election and gain success due to his ability and skill to become a leader to lead this country effectively inshallah. Regards Dr. Saleem Siddiqi Johannesburg South Africa

Mirza | 13 years ago | Reply Mush was a “poor salaried” man all his working life till he came in politics and became his own boss as president but still on salary. He must not have any real big assets, especially in Pakistan? His son Bilal was already living in the US and so was Mush’s brother to name a few. Why would they keep most of their assets in Pakistan, when they had already planned to settle overseas? Good luck finding his assets!

AnisAqeel | 13 years ago | Reply What good will it do when most of the wealth may be kept in several foreign accounts? Left over must may be under loans or military gifts to its one of the greatest. Moreover he is making a fortune on speeches abroad. We have a habit of always doing a little and doing very late.

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