The counsel pleading Nawab Akbar Bugti’s murder case against former president Pervez Musharraf and five other co-accused in the Balochistan High Court (BHC), has rejected former prime minister Shaukat Aziz’s claim of not being involved in the 2006 military operation that led to the killing of the Baloch leader.
Aziz, a co-accused, wrote a letter to the Balochistan police in November last year claiming innocence in the murder case.
Nawabzada Jamil Bugti, the eldest son of the slain Baloch nationalist leader, has refused to accept Aziz’s letter, Advocate Abdul Shakil Hadi, the counsel for the petitioner told The Express Tribune.
In the letter, presented before the BHC by the investigation team, Aziz denied having played any role in Bugti’s murder, saying he learnt about the killing through a news channel.
The letter has no legal value, Hadi said, adding, “For us, it is just a piece of paper. Shaukat Aziz should make this statement before the police or a magistrate under section 164 CrPC. His letter will not satisfy us.”
“What will satisfy us, however, is all the accused, including Musharraf, Aziz, former provincial governor Owais Ghani, former Balochistan chief minister Jam Muhammad Yousaf, former interior minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, a sitting member of the Balochistan Assembly and then provincial home minister Shoaib Nousherwani are sent to the gallows,” Hadi said. “They deserve capital punishment.”
The federal government has failed to arrest the accused despite their arrest warrants being issued by the court. “The federal government is not serious about its commitment to bringing Musharraf, Aziz and the other accused back to Pakistan to face trial,” the counsel maintained.
The provincial government isn’t fulfilling its legal and constitutional obligation in arresting the co-accused either, Hadi said. MPA Shoaib Nousherwani, Hadi said, could have been arrested from the Balochistan Assembly premises where he had arrived to take part in the Senate by-elections recently.
When the investigating team presented Aziz’s letter before the BHC, the Balochistan chief justice directed the investigators to include in the investigation all officials, both civil and military, with any information about the murder.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2012.
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This is might be the start of bringing Baluchistan out of crisis and showing the Baloch nationalists that the rest of Pakistan cares about Baluchistan. Musharraf along with many of his accomplices should be punished. It is during his rule target killings, suicide attacks and terrorism spiraled out of control. He planted the seeds of hatred between Pakistanis.
@Mohsin, do you realise how much more serious the issue in Balochistan has become these days (one the main reason being killing Bugti)?
All those responsible for Bugti's murder must face consequences and should get the hardest punishment!
The whole system of sardari in balochistan is criminal and is epitomized by the likes of the bugtis and the marris. Excuse me if I fail to have sympathy for this class sadistic sociopaths. They live and thrive in the major cities of Pakistan like Karachi and Islamabad, yet, they believe that Balochistan is just for ethnic balochis. Similarly, these Pakistani laws that Mr Bugti is appealing to for the punishment of those whom he accuses are the same laws that these guys deny in their areas...even their province if they had their way. It may not be politically correct but I believe large scale imprisonment/liquidation of these people (sardars) is the best solution to the Balochistan issue.
I don't know it was right or wrong but surely those annoying gas supply disruptions due to blown up pipelines have almost diminished after this man has vanished.
All the responsible Govt. Official must face/appear before SC/CJ of Pakistan to clarify. Because killing of A. Bugti was/is not killing of a single man but blow to the National Interest and Unity. The must clarify or justify their cause for their brutal action that has been provided space for violation of law, terror and insecurity.