Lal Masjid murder case: Bail approved, but Musharraf awaits release
Adiala jail has sent notification to Islamabad Chief Commissioner, but the latter has yet to act on it.
Judge submits written order requesting the release of former president Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
Though an additional sessions judge on Wednesday passed a written order approving bail for former president Pervez Musharraf in the murder case of cleric Ghazi Abdul Rasheed and his mother during the Lal Masjid operation in 2007, his freedom is yet to come into effect, Express News reported.
Musharraf’s bail with two surety bonds of Rs0.1 million each was submitted to the court earlier on Wednesday, meaning he could walk free by the end of the day, once formalities are complete.
The judge said a police joint investigation had deemed the evidence insufficient, declaring Musharraf innocent.
Musharraf’s farmhouse – that had been notified as a sub jail earlier – will be de-notified and the jail staff that was guarding it will leave.
While the Adiala jail has sent a notification to the Islamabad chief commissioner, the latter has yet to endorse what is the last step between Muhsarraf and his release.
Musharraf is still on the Exit Control List (ECL) but he can freely move within the country.
However, his lawyer Ahmed Raza Kasuri claimed on Wednesday evening that per his reading of the laws, Muhsarraf's name was no longer on the ECL. He added that all the cases against Musharraf were fake and that justice had been served with the bails being approved.
His counsel, Ilyas Siddiqui, said that Musharraf was granted bail in all four cases against him and he is now an "average citizen".
On November 4, a trial court had granted Musharraf his request for bail in connection with the murder as there was not enough evidence linking him to the crime.
Musharraf was arrested on October 10 on the order of Islamabad High Court (IHC) over the alleged murder of the deputy cleric of Lal Masjid, Abdul Rasheed Ghazi and his mother during a military operation in 2007. The ex-president had filed an application before the Additional District and Sessions Court and sought bail in this case.
During the course of hearing on October 30, attorneys from both the sides completed their arguments and judgment had been reserved till November 1. The hearing had further been delayed to November 4 to allow the prosecution more time to collect evidence.
Ilyas Siddiqui, had maintained that his client was wrongly implicated in the case as the First Information Report (FIR) was based on mala fide intentions.
Advocate Tariq Asad, representing the prosecution, termed the court’s decision unlawful, adding that they fully intend to challenge this decision.
But elsewhere there was anger. Aseefa Bhutto Zardari tweeted that Musharraf was her mother's murderer.
Though an additional sessions judge on Wednesday passed a written order approving bail for former president Pervez Musharraf in the murder case of cleric Ghazi Abdul Rasheed and his mother during the Lal Masjid operation in 2007, his freedom is yet to come into effect, Express News reported.
Musharraf’s bail with two surety bonds of Rs0.1 million each was submitted to the court earlier on Wednesday, meaning he could walk free by the end of the day, once formalities are complete.
The judge said a police joint investigation had deemed the evidence insufficient, declaring Musharraf innocent.
Musharraf’s farmhouse – that had been notified as a sub jail earlier – will be de-notified and the jail staff that was guarding it will leave.
While the Adiala jail has sent a notification to the Islamabad chief commissioner, the latter has yet to endorse what is the last step between Muhsarraf and his release.
Musharraf is still on the Exit Control List (ECL) but he can freely move within the country.
However, his lawyer Ahmed Raza Kasuri claimed on Wednesday evening that per his reading of the laws, Muhsarraf's name was no longer on the ECL. He added that all the cases against Musharraf were fake and that justice had been served with the bails being approved.
His counsel, Ilyas Siddiqui, said that Musharraf was granted bail in all four cases against him and he is now an "average citizen".
On November 4, a trial court had granted Musharraf his request for bail in connection with the murder as there was not enough evidence linking him to the crime.
Musharraf was arrested on October 10 on the order of Islamabad High Court (IHC) over the alleged murder of the deputy cleric of Lal Masjid, Abdul Rasheed Ghazi and his mother during a military operation in 2007. The ex-president had filed an application before the Additional District and Sessions Court and sought bail in this case.
During the course of hearing on October 30, attorneys from both the sides completed their arguments and judgment had been reserved till November 1. The hearing had further been delayed to November 4 to allow the prosecution more time to collect evidence.
Ilyas Siddiqui, had maintained that his client was wrongly implicated in the case as the First Information Report (FIR) was based on mala fide intentions.
Advocate Tariq Asad, representing the prosecution, termed the court’s decision unlawful, adding that they fully intend to challenge this decision.
But elsewhere there was anger. Aseefa Bhutto Zardari tweeted that Musharraf was her mother's murderer.