A Pakistani court hearing a case related to the 2006 killing of Baloch leader Akbar Bugti today directed authorities to produce former military ruler Pervez Musharraf at the next hearing on September 10.
Judge Ismail Baloch of the anti-terrorism court in the southwestern city of Quetta expressed his displeasure with the team investigating Bugti's murder for their failure to produce Musharraf during today's hearing.
Musharraf, one of the main accused in the case, is currently being held at his farmhouse in Islamabad, which has been declared a "sub-jail". He was arrested shortly after he returned to Pakistan from self-exile in March.
The former President is facing charges in several cases, including the killing of Bugti in a military operation and the 2007 assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.
The anti-terrorism court again issued arrest warrants for other accused in the Bugti case, including former premier Shaukat Aziz, former Balochistan Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani and former Deputy Commissioner Abdul Samad Lasi.
The court directed authorities to also produce the other accused men at the next hearing and adjourned the case.
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.
The Baloch nationalist leader had led an armed campaign to press for provincial autonomy and a greater share of profits from Balochistan's natural resources. Bugti's death triggered protests across Pakistan.
