QUETTA, Jan 18 (DNA): An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Quetta has acquitted former President Pervez Musharraf in the murder case of Baloch tribal leader Nawab Akbar Bugti on Monday.The court has accepted acquittal pleas of three accused including Pervez Musharraf, former interior minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and former home minister of Balochistan Mir Shoaib Nowsherwani in the Baloch leader’s murder.

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 was indicted by the ATC on January 14 last year in the murder case.

Bugti had led a campaign to press for provincial autonomy and a greater share of profits for the province from Balochistan‘s natural resources.

Nawabzada Jamil Akbar Bugti, son of the Baloch chieftain, had named Musharraf and other former ministers in the murder of his father.

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 also charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder and facilitation for Benazir Bhutto’s murder. Other cases against him include judges detention and treason case. DNA
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