Pervez Musharraf, Aftab Sherpao acquitted in Akbar Bugti murder case

QUETTA (Staff Report) - An anti-terrorism court (ATC) Monday acquitted former president Pervez Musharraf, former federal interior minister Aftab Ahmad Sherpao and former Balochistan home minister Shoaib Nosherwani in Nawaz Akbar Bugti murder case.

Announcing the short verdict of murder case, the ATC said that all of the three accused were found not guilty while prosecution also failed to prove its case against the suspects.

The court had reserved verdict on last hearing when as many as 27 witnesses of prosecution recorded their statements with the anti-terrorism court (ATC).

Reacting to the court's decision, Akbar Bugti's son Jamil Bugti said that prosecution's performance before the court was very poor and they had completely given up the case against former military ruler and his accomplices who conducted military operation to kill Akbar Bugti in 2006.

Akbar Bugti died on August 26, 2006, when fight broke out between contingents of Pakistan army in Kohlu district of Balochistan after attacks on two military helicopters.

According to a statement of Pakistan army, which was issued immediately after the tragedy, 36 armed men, Akbar Bugti and 12 personnel of Pakistan army died when the cave where Bugti was then residing collapsed.