Bugti case: Act against Mush in 7 days, says court

A Pakistani court has given authorities seven days to initiate action against former President Pervez Musharraf in connection with a case related to the killing of Baloch nationalist leader Akbar Bugti, expressing dissatisfaction over the slow pace of investigation.

The Balochistan high court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa was dissatisfied with the Crime Branch's performance in the case and gave it seven days to take action against Musharraf, currently living in Britain in self-exile. During a hearing held on Wednesday in Quetta, Deputy Attorney General Malik Sikandar sought more time on behalf of the federal government from the high court to present a report on efforts to seek Musharraf's extradition.

Balochistan's Additional Advocate General Nasrullah Achakzai informed the court that the provincial government had asked the federal government to seek the extradition of Musharraf and other accused in the case. He said the federal government had been requested to approach Interpol in this regard. Sikandar said more time was needed to complete the letter that the provincial government is required to present for the extradition of the accused.

"The federal government is committed to ensuring the implementation of all decisions in the Akbar Bugti murder case," he told the court.
The two-judge bench expressed dissatisfaction over the pace of the investigation. "A huge amount of time had already been wasted," it observed.

The bench said statements of persons who had not been nominated in the case were being recorded while the "real nominees are yet to be approached."

The court subsequently adjourned the case till August 17. Akbar Bugti was killed during a military operation against Baloch nationalist rebels in 2006 that was ordered by Musharraf, who was then also the army chief.