Nawab Bugti murder case: Court orders medical board to examine Musharraf’s health

Decision taken upon ex-president’s request for exemption from court appearance

QUETTA:

The Anti-Terrorism Court-I (ATC-I) on Monday ordered the constitution of a seven-member medical board to examine the medical condition of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf who was exempted from Monday’s hearing in the Nawab Akbar Bugti murder case.

ATC-I Quetta Judge Nazeer Langov accepted the application of Musharraf’s lawyer regarding his client’s exemption from personal appearance in the court due to his medical condition. The court was told that Musharraf was recommended bed rest and he could not come to Quetta and attend hearing. Two guarantors appeared before the court.

Counsel for Nawabzada Jameel Bugti, Sohail Rajput, said the medical certificate is not authentic and could be obtained from any doctors. He requested formation of a medical team of senior doctors to examine the health of the former military ruler.

At the same time, Rajput accused Musharraf of deliberately trying to delay proceedings.

However, the court ignored his argument and instead ordered that Musharraf’s examination be carried out by seven doctors of at least grade-20. The board was told to submit a thorough medical report at the next hearing.

Rajput requested the court that the co-accused in the Bugti murder case, including former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, then provincial governor Awais Ahmed Ghani and former district coordinator officer in Dera Bugti Samad Lasi, should be punished under section 21-L of the Anti-Terrorism Act. “The court had earlier declared these three co-accused absconders. Now it is the legal requirement to punish them for not appearing before the court,” he told the court.

The court said it would issue its order at the next hearing.

The lawyers for former interior minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and ex-home minister Shoaib Nausherwani requested the court for separate trials for their cases as they were not involved in this case.

Those nominated in the FIR are accused of involvement in the assassination of Nawab Akbar Bugti and his more than 30 comrades in  2006 near Dera Bugti.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2014.