Musharraf says willing to face courts in Benazir murder case
islamabad — Former president Gen Pervez Musharraf has said that he will face trial in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case in Pakistan as soon as his health improves, media reports said on Sunday.
In a statement issued by the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) secretariat, Musharraf said that the recent court verdict was not against him as his case is still pending.
Terming American journalist and lobbyist Mark Siegel’s statement “meaningless”, Musharraf said that his lawyers had already refuted the comments, reports Dawn online
Siegel, in his testimony in 2015, had claimed Musharraf had threatened Bhutto with dire consequences if she chose to return to Pakistan from exile.
The former president also said that his legal team was looking into the issue of his property’s seizure and that he, or his family, would take legal action after consultation. He said that he was wrongly implicated in the case on a political basis.
A joint investigation team had named Musharraf in the case, saying that his government did not provide adequate security to Benazir despite her repeated requests.
Earlier this week, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) acquitted five Tehreek-e-Taleban Pakistan (TTP) suspects and announced 17-year imprisonment for two police officials in Benazir Bhutto murder case.
Apart from Musharraf, five others — Baitullah Mehsud, Ahmad Gul, Iqramullah, Abdullah, and Faizullah — were declared absconders.
The case had lingered on for about 10 years. During the case, 68 witnesses appeared on behalf of the prosecution and recorded their testimonies.
The police presented three charge sheets before the court, whereas the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) presented five. The judge hearing the case was changed eight times.
In 2013, FIA’s special prosecutor in the case was killed by unknown assailants. Doctors said he had been killed with 10 bullets targeting his chest and shoulder. Benazir was assassinated when terrorists attacked her convoy, as it was leaving the historic Liaquat Bagh after addressing a public meeting on December 27, 2007.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari, meanwhile, vowed that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will appeal against the decision in the Bhutto case.
Speaking to reporters after Eid prayers in Nawabshah city of Sindh province, Zardari expressed his dissatisfaction with the verdict in the murder case of his deceased wife.
“We are not satisfied with the verdict, we will appeal against it,” he was quoted as saying by the local media.
He reached Nawabshah with his daughters Bakhtawar and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari. He was welcomed by Sindh law minister Zia Lanjar and other PPP leaders. — Agencies