Musharraf indicted in Bugti murder case

QUETTA: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday indicted former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf in the case of the murder of Jamhoori Watan Party leader Nawab Akbar Bugti who was killed in a military operation in 2006.

Two other accused – former interior minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and Balochistan’s former home minister Shoaib Ahmed Nausherwani – appeared before the court and were also indicted. The hearing was adjourned until February 4 and the court will hear the case on a daily basis after that, ATC Judge Aftab Lon said.

Musharraf’s lawyer, Zeeshan Cheema, and two guarantors submitted a medical certificate stating that the former military ruler was too unwell to attend the hearing.

Sohail Rajput, the lawyer for Jamil Bugti, the son of the late Akbar Bugti, commented that Musharraf often appears on television, attends meetings and gatherings, and it is therefore evident that he does not suffer from health problems.

The judge expressed dissatisfaction at Musharraf’s absence and summoned the provincial director general health to confirm if the primary accused was ill or simply avoiding appearing in court. The hearing was then adjourned for an hour.

Judge Lon framed charges against Musharraf, Sherpao and Nausherwani and ordered the provincial director general health to appear before the court in the next hearing to discuss why a medical board has not been constituted to examine Musharraf’s health.

Nawab Akbar Bugti and more than 35 of his comrades were killed during a military operation in the mountainous areas of Bugti Tribal Territory and Kohlu on August 26, 2006. Nawabzada Jamil Akbar Bugti nominated the former president and other officials in the murder of his father.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2015.