Former president Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: REUTERS
QUETTA: A anti-terrorism court in Quetta hearing the murder case of slain Nawab Akbar Bugti on Monday ordered embattled former military ruler Pervez Musharraf to appear in person on April 21 or face arrest.
Musharraf, who was last week indicted by a special court for treason, has been on bail in three other major cases dating to his time in power, including one relating to the 2006 assassination of Bugti during a military operation.
"Judge Tariq Anwar Kasi ordered Musharraf to appear in person on April 21 or the arrest warrant will be executed," a court official told AFP.
Bugti led an armed campaign to press for provincial autonomy and a greater share of profits from Balochistan's natural resources.
His killing sparked deadly nationwide protests and inflamed an armed insurgency that rose up in 2004.
The official added the court had rejected an application by Musharraf's lawyer Riaz Janjua for an exemption from a personal appearance.
A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court had granted bail to Musharraf in October last year citing lack of substantial evidence involving him in the criminal conspiracy regarding Bugti's murder.
Musharraf, who led Pakistan from 1999 to 2008, returned from self-imposed exile in March last year to fight in general elections, but was barred from taking part and has faced a barrage of legal cases including treason.
The treason charges relate to Musharraf's 2007 imposition of emergency rule which came as the Supreme Court was due to rule on the validity of his re-election as president.
COMMENTS (5)
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@unbelievable: There is no international community that I know of that is calling Bugti's death at the hands of Paksitan's forces a murder. Maybe you are referring to the lone US Congressman who has ulterior motives and is not even supported by his own party in his comments about Balochistan. As far as proving it in court is concerned as you ask, the supreme court awarded bail to Musharraf in this case already (that the ATC Quetta had refused) stating there has not been a shred of evidence produced. This is a sham case and everyone knows it. No international community of any respect would support this case in which a mass and self proclaimed murderer was killed while fighting a sovereign nations forces.
ET... do not bother to post this comment as this is a direct message to you and my last ever comment. Henceforth will revert back to Dawn News website.
I have strongly observed that you do not hesitate to post and allow all kinda anti Pakistan and anti Muslim comments... but if someone (for instance like me) tries to talk positive about Pakistan... you have big problems. You have ignored my last two comments and not posted the major one in which I have simply tried to clear myth around this so called Baloch martyr Bugti... You have thus solidify my doubt on yr objectivities.
Shame on u
Bugti led an armed campaign to press for provincial autonomy and a greater share of profits from Balochistan’s natural resources. Bugti has been the governer and CM of Balochustan. When he was Governer he led an army operation to expel his opposers. During Mush regime he led an armd campain not for the rights of Balochistan but becoz he was not in the govenement. During 2004 president of Pakistan heli was fired upon when he was on a visit to Kohlu. Later the heli of IG FC Balochistan was fired upon and both IG and DIG sustained bullet injuries. Bugti was killed in an armd action where three officers also got shahdat. It was not murder, It was killed in encounter. Bugti was not throwing flowers.
ET is requested to consider using correct terminology and factual reporting. Being killed in a military operation is not an "assassination", neither is it a "murder", both of which are illegal. ET story is inaccurate as it talks about the military action but not the fact Bugti led an insurgency against the Pak state. This insurgency did not start with the 2004 killing, but has been around for decades. Bugti was killed fighting Pakistani forces.