Musharraf acquitted in Bugti murder trial
An anti-terrorism court in Balochistan's provincial capital Quetta acquitted Pakistan's former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf in the murder case of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti. Bugti's son Jamil Bugti said he would challenge the decision of the court. Further, the court rejected Jamil's request of exhumation to ascertain if the body buried in "Dera Bugti was that of Akbar Bugti."
Former Chief Minister of Balochistan and veteran Baloch nationalist leader, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was killed, alongside 37 armed tribals, in a military operation in Chalgri area of Bhamboor hills of Dera Bugti district. The operation was carried out under General Musharraf's orders. Sources claimed that security forces had used heavy weapons and helicopter gunships in an operation that began 3 days ago.
A Pakistani court acting on a petition filed before it seeking a murder trial summoned former President Pervez Musharraf and many of his chief aides to appear before the Balochistan HC on 7 October in connection with the murder of Nawab Akbar Bugti. After a similar plea was dismissed by a sessions court, Bugti's son Jamil filed the petition in the High Court
Musharraf is facing similar murder charges in the case of former premier Benazir Bhutto who was mercilessly assassinated in 2007. He has procured bail in that case.
Pervez Musharraf was indicted by an anti-terrorism court in the Bugti murder trial. The court in Quetta charge-sheeted the general and the hearing was adjourned till 4 February. Musharraf failed to appear in court since the trial began in 2009 which became the reason for his indictment. Even at the time when the charge-sheet was read, he was absent from the court.
On medical grounds and keeping in mind the threat to his life, the court granted Musharraf an immunity for absence from court on 22 April 2015.
Nawabzada Jamil Bugti, son of Baloch chieftain Nawab Akbar Bugti, declared that General Pervez Musharraf had begged pardon through his lawyer for the 'murder' of the slain Baloch leader. However, hours after this was reported Musharraf denied the claims of apology he offered in Akbar Bugti murder case saying that he was "not that man who tenders apology​".
