AN ANTI-TERRORIST COURT ISSUES ARREST WARRANTS FOR FORMER PRESIDENT GENERAL MUSHARRAF AND PRIME MINISTER SHAUKAT AZIZ

AN ANTI-TERRORIST COURT ISSUES ARREST WARRANTS FOR FORMER PRESIDENT GENERAL MUSHARRAF AND PRIME MINISTER SHAUKAT AZIZ

By Azhar Masood, Special for All Voices

ISLAMABAD.Aug.15.2012.An Anti-Terrorist Court of Sibi Wednesday issued arrest warrants for former military president General Pervez Musharraf and former prime minister Shaukat Aziz in Tribal Chief Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti’s murder case.

Musharraf is already absconding in former 2-time Benazir Bhutto’s murder case.

Judge Nawaz Khan Barakzai of the Anti Terrorist Court also issued warrants against former chief minister Balochistan Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf, former governor Awais Ahmed Ghani and other respondents, while hearing the case registered at the Kohlu Police Station.

The sessions court in Kohlu had forwarded this case through the Balochistan High Court to the Anti-Terrorism Court in Sibi on July 4.

During the hearing, the investigation officer informed the court that he is in contact with Interpol regarding the issuance of red warrants against Musharraf and Aziz. He added that Yousuf and former interior minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao were on bail while others were in hiding.

The court ordered the investigation officer to arrest all the nominated accused and produce them before the court during the next hearing.

The bench maintained that it was the last chance for all respondents including former Balochistan home minister Shoaib Nausherwani and former DCO Dera Bugti Abdul Samad Lasi to appear before the court.

The hearing was adjourned till September 5.

Nawab Akbar Bugti was assassinated on August 26, 2006 in a military operation carried out during Musharraf’s regime.

Meanwhile Balochistan High Court (BHC) accepted the bail application of former chief minister Balochistan and Federal Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf on Thursday and adjourned proceeding until September 3. The divisional bench headed by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel and Justice Mustafa Mengal heard the Nawab Akar Khan Bugti case and a petition was submitted by Nawabzada Jamil Akbar Bugti claiming non-arrest of the true culprits in the case. Former chief minister Jam Yousuf was present at the hearing. The bench added that the investigation is weak and ordered the investigating officer to record Yousuf’s statement. Yousuf recorded his statement and claimed that the former president Pervez Musharraf conducted the operation against Nawab Akbar Bugti.