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Pervez Musharraf declared fugitive
Pakistan\'s former dictator Pervez Musharraf was on Thursday declared a fugitive by an anti-terrorism court which ordered seizure of his property and sentenced two senior police officers to 17 years in jail in the Benazir Bhutto murder case, nearly 10 years after her assassination.
Islamabad: Pakistan's former dictator Pervez Musharraf was on Thursday declared a fugitive by an anti-terrorism court which ordered seizure of his property and sentenced two senior police officers to 17 years in jail in the Benazir Bhutto murder case, nearly 10 years after her assassination.
Bhutto, the Pakistan Peoples Party chief and a two-time prime minister, was killed along with more than 20 people in a gun and bomb attack in Rawalpindi's Liaquat Bagh during an election campaign rally on December 27, 2007. She was 54. The case was registered soon after her assassination and the trial went through many ups and down until it concluded on Wednesday in Rawalpindi. Judge Asghar Khan announced the verdict, declaring Musharraf a proclaimed offender and ordered seizure of his property.
A joint investigation team had implicated Musharraf in the case, saying that his government did not provide adequate security to the former prime minister despite her repeated requests. Apart from Musharraf, five other men — Baitullah Mehsud, Ahmad Gul, Iqramullah, Abdullah, and Faizullah — have been declared absconders.
Musharraf, 74, is now living in Dubai since last year when he was allowed to leave Pakistan on pretext of medical treatment. The judge sentenced former Rawalpindi City Police Officer Saud Aziz and former Rawal Town Superintendent of Police Khurram Shahzad — suspects out on bail — to 17 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of Rs 5 lakh each.
Both police officers - who were present in the court, have been arrested from Adiala Jail. Five Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) suspects have been acquitted over lack of evidence. The suspects - Rafaqat Hussain, Husnain Gul, Sher Zaman, Aitzaz Shah and Abdul Rashid - were arrested soon after the crime and have been in jail. They had denied the charges.
All accused were present at the time of announcement of trial except Musharraf. The trial of five suspects started in January 2008.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the "decision is disappointing and unacceptable", adding that the party would explore legal options. "10 years later and we still await justice. Abettors punished but those truly guilty of my mothers murder roam free," Bhutto's daughter Aseefa Bhutto Zardari tweeted soon after the verdict.
