Bugti murder case: Quetta ATC directs Musharraf to appear on Oct 13

Court also asks crime branch to ensure security for ex-president

QUETTA:

An anti-terrorism court has directed former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf to appear in person on October 13 in the Nawab Akbar Bugti murder case.

The counsel for Musharraf, who is the prime accused in the case, submitted a medical certificating to the presiding officer of ATC Quetta, Nazeer Ahmed Langov, seeking one month’s exemption for his client from personal appearance before the court.

“Former chief minister and governor Nawab Akbar Bugti was killed along with his 35 comrades on August 26, 2006 in Dera Bugti in a military operation. An FIR was registered at Dera Bugti police station on October 10, 2009 in which Pervez Musharraf was nominated as the prime accused along with others. We approached the high court in 2011. Since then there has been no progress in the case,” lawyer Sohail Rajput told the court.

He contended that the accused was dilly-dallying since day one of the hearing. He prayed the court issue arrest warrants for Musharraf.

The judge directed the lawyer to ensure Musharraf’s appearance in the court on the next date of hearing. He also directed the crime branch police to ensure the security of the former president for court appearance. The hearing was adjourned till October 13.

“It is a high-profile case and the pace of investigation is, in one word, regrettable,” Rajput told The Express Tribune following the adjournment of the case.  “The court should issue arrest warrants otherwise the former president will continue to use delaying tactics faking medical issues,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2014.