Summary The case saw many twists in the last seven years.
RAWALPINDI (Web Desk) – Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s murder case, that is subjudice at an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi, is now heading towards its logical conclusion, Dunya News reported.
The case saw many twists in the last seven years with several trial judges transferred, prosecutor and some suspects killed.
So far, statements of 62 out of 141 prosecution witnesses have been recorded while names of other 50 witnesses have been excluded by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The trial will be closed once statements of another five witnesses are recorded.
“95% of the trial has been completed. The case could only be delayed until any hidden reason surfaces now. Otherwise, the decision should be announced before March,” FIA Prosecutor Khawaja Imtiaz Ahmed said.
On the other hand, Musharraf’s counsel is hopeful that court will announce a positive decision.
“Benazir Bhutto never said that she is afraid of Musharraf. There is no evidence of the e-mail. Some other person might have sent it using her account,” Advocoate Ilyas Siddiqui told Dunya News.
ALSO READ: Mark Siegel blames Musharraf for Benazir‘s murder
Musharraf is now also planning to submit an acquittal plea in the court after renowned American author Mark Siegel, who is also a key witness in thhe case, declared him Benazir‘s murderer.
Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf returned to Pakistan to run in the national election held in May 2013 but was disqualified from participating in the vote because of his actions while in office.
The retired general, who took power in a 1999 coup and stepped down from office in disgrace nearly a decade later, faces a litany of legal problems.
He was charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder and facilitation for Benazir Bhutto‘s murder. He is also facing trial in high treason case for abrogating the constitution in 2007 and illegal detention of judges same year.
On January 18 this year, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Quetta acquitted former president Pervez Musharraf in the murder case of Baloch tribal leader Nawab Akbar Bugti.
Nawab Akbar Bugti, former chief minister of Balochistan and head of his tribe, was killed in 2006 in a military operation ordered by Musharraf who was president and army chief at the time.
Musharraf has been under house arrest in Karachi while the cases have ground through Pakistan‘s slow legal system, moving from adjournment to adjournment with little clear progress apart from the granting of bail.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW:
