Islamabad: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was on Sunday declared a fugitive along with two others by an anti-terrorism court in Quetta in connection with the 2006 murder of Baloch nationalist leader Akbar Khan Bugti.
The court also rejected former president General Pervez Musharraf’s request for exemption from attendance in the case in which he is also an accused.
Aziz, former governor of Balochistan Owais Ahmed Ghani and former district coordination officer (DCO) Abdul Samad Lasi were declared fugitives and the court ordered the authorities to seize their properties.
The trio have arrest warrants pending against them. During the hearing of the case, former Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao was produced before the court.
The court rejected Musharraf’s application seeking exemption from attending court proceedings and ordered him to appear at its upcoming hearing on December 24.
Musharraf, who is already on bail in the case, had cited security concerns in his application for exemption.
Bugti was killed in a cave on August 26, 2006 during a military crackdown ordered by Musharraf who was president and army chief at the time.
Bugti had led an armed campaign to press for provincial autonomy and a greater share of profits from Balochistan’s natural resources. His death sparked angry protests in the country. (PTI)
