Benazir assassination case: FIA unable to compile report on Musharraf’s assets

Provincial boards of revenue and GHQ have yet to submit details.

RAWALPINDI:

An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi has adjourned the hearings on the Benazir Bhutto assassination case once again after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has delayed providing the court with details on assets of former president Pervez Musharraf, one of the key accused in the case.

The FIA informed Special Judge Shahid Rafique that investigators had unearthed a 1,000 square yard plot owned by the former dictator in Gwadar.

For the case to proceed further, the trial court requires a complete report on Musharraf’s movable and immovable assets to be cautioned since he was declared a proclaimed offender for not appearing in the court as an accused in the former premier’s murder.

FIA officials reiterated that they had written letters to the boards of revenue of the four provinces, the GHQ and the Defence Housing Authority to provide details of Musharraf’s property, but they have yet to receive an answer.

The FIA has accused Musharraf of compromising the security provided to Bhutto on her return from exile and issuing death threats.

On the last date of hearing, FIA prosecutor Chaudhary Zulfiqar Ali had informed the court that Musharraf owned a farmhouse in Chak Shahzad, Islamabad, and Rs80 million in six bank accounts in Pakistan.

Other offenders in the case include former city police officer, Rawalpindi, Saud Aziz, SP Khurram Shahzad, Aitzaz Shah, Sher Zaman, Abdul Rasheed, Hasnain Gul and Rafaqat Hussain. The case has been adjourned till August 10.



Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2011.