The case which has been in progress since 2009 was heard in court today. PHOTO: AFP
Former interior minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and Home Minister Shoab Ahmed Nausherwani who were present during the hearing did not plead guilty to the charges.
The hearing of the Bugti murder case was adjourned till February 4 and will be heard on a daily basis from then, the judge announced.
ATC Quetta judge Aftab Lon was not happy about Musharraf’s absence from the court and summoned Director General Health Balochistan to tell the court whether Musharraf was really ill or if his health issues were just an excuse.
Musharraf’s lawyer and two guarantors appeared before the court and submitted a medical certificate stating that Musharraf was too sick to attend Wednesday’s hearing.
Sohail Rajput, Bugti’s lawyer, told the court that Musharraf often appears on television and attends ceremonies by which it was evident that he does not face any health issues.
ATC judge expressed his irritation and summoned DG health Balochistan before adjourning the session for an hour.
The judge framed charges against the former president, former interior minister Sherpao and Home Minister Shoab Nausherwani.
Nawab Akbar Bugti was assassinated along with over 35 of his comrades during a military operation in the mountainous areas of Bugti Tribal Territory and Kohlu on August 26, 2006.
Musharraf, who was president at the time, had directed the military operation.
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@Ch. Allah Daad: In continuation justice must be done for the brutal murders in Model town. The civilian dictatorship must allow investigation to proceed. Each person in the FIR be questioned to establish possible guilt.
Akbar Bugti was head of a separatist movement, which clearly means he was against Pakistan. Portray the story in whatever way you like, but the fact that matters is Pakistani soldiers lost their lives during this incident as well.
IMHO, Musharraf belongs in jail.
Not for this, though. While I am sympathetic to the Baloch cause, the operation against Akbar Bugti was a legitimate military operation.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Yes, justice must prevail. But justice must be seen as well. We all know these are concocted cases used for political and vendetta motives. This very court had cancelled Musharraf's bail and then the supreme court reversed their decision stating no evidence of Musharraf's involvement had been presented and therefore the charges were bogus. This court wants Musharraf arrested but they cannot because the SC had already ruled against them. Besides, what respectable country brings its president to court for an action that its military took against those who attack its forces and citizens with heavy ammunition and murder scores? True justice would have been to throw this case out at its onset as frivolous.
What a travesty; the man who followed his illegal orders is now engaged in appeasing the civilian Prime Minister and travelling on his behalf around the world after having displaced millions of Pakistani citizens with areal bombardment? Should'nt Musharaf be handed over to the military court now since the evidence against him is readily avilable in the army archives?
Rex Minor
All the alleged attackers of Mush have been hanged. Hosni Mubarak of Egypt is going to be released while the last and only elected PM is in jail it is time that Mush be released. He is never going to be punished so let us end this drama and send him out. The courts in Baluchistan may be slightly more independent but the SC would release him. His treason is more serious than one or two murders when there is no progresses in that case then why continue the charade and waste millions more?
What a poor example of journalism calling it Akbar Bugti's assassination and that Musharraf directed the action. A military operation against separatist militants who have blown up pipelines, attacked and killed military personnel is NOT an assassination. And who gave this writer the title of the judge to decide Musharraf directed the operation? Was he there? That is what is alleged, while Musharraf's statement is the local military command directed the operation on request of the local government. Shameful article! It's articles like these that mislead, confuse, and divide this nation.
Musharraf was arrested for this crime on June 13, 2013 - any other country his trial would be over by now.
Legal system has already lost its credibility to protect citizens of Pakistan, how they can provide justice to one of the great leader of Pakistan?
but.. what about, he was blowing up gas pipelines and shooting rocket attacks into refineries? is it not legal job to give protection to these assets, both as private properties of investors and SOEs, and as the nation's means for gas supply? so during course of giving legal protection to these private and public assets, whereby Bugti sb did not surrender, he was killed in shootout by law enforcement agencies. so, the court says it is assisination to kill someone who is attempting arrest and attacking law enforcement agencies? then i saw, may God damn this court!
Justice must prevail. He is not above the law.
Now Musharraf doesn't know what hit him....
" Nawab Akbar Bugti was assassinated along with over 35 of his comrades ...." Was he assassinated or he was killed in a firefight with pak army? It is not assassination by any definition. Tribune and other papers are showing biased journalism or wrong choice of words!
An adventurist responsible for much of our problems
PMLN government is vindictive by nature. What a mess Pakistan has become..