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Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Musharraf to be shifted to jail if not produced on 30th

* Police fail to produce former dictator in court for second time

RAWALPINDI: The anti-terrorism court on Tuesday directed the police officials to shift former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, the prime accused in Benazir Bhutto murder case, to the Adiala Jail if he is not produced before it on the next hearing of the case on July 30.
ATC-I Special Judge Chaudhry Habibur Rehman had summoned the former dictator following the submission of a challan by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on June 25 in which he (Musharraf) had been declared the main accused in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. It is the second time that the police officials, citing security concerns, have failed to produce Musharraf in the court, which is hearing the high-profile case for the last five years.
Taking strong notice of the defiance of the court orders, Judge Chaudhry Habibur Rehman remarked that if Musharraf is not produced on the next hearing, he would be shifted to the Adiala Jail where the court proceedings would be held. The court ordered the police officials to ensure Musharraf’s presence before it on July 30 and adjourned the hearing till the date. On June 25, the FIA had submitted a challan against the former military dictator, declaring him the ‘prime accused’ in the murder case of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto.
FIA’s Deputy Director Khalid Rasool had presented the charge sheet in the court against Musharraf and listed him as the main accused in the light of a statement recorded by American journalist Mark Siegel. The charge sheet also contained the statements of four witnesses, including that of Siegel as well as Benazir Bhutto’s own statement in which she had said that Musharraf and three others be held responsible if she was assassinated.
Musharraf had also been accused of hatching a conspiracy to assassinate Benazir. While becoming the witness in the case, Mark Siegel in his statement to the FIA’s investigation team had revealed that Benazir was disturbed after receiving a phone call from Musharraf in his (Siegel’s) presence on September 25, 2007. According to Siegel’s statement, Musharraf had warned Benazir that she would be responsible for her own security if she returned to the country before the 2008 elections. Besides, the US journalist had claimed to have a copy of Musharraf’s email sent to Benazir. app

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

 

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