RAWALPINDI: On Wednesday, the Lahore High Court (LHC), after waiting for five and a half years, finally scheduled a hearing date for the appeals in the murder case of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
Muhammad Ameer Bhatti, Chief Justice of the LHC, nominated Justices Sadaqat Ali Khan and Mirza Waqas Rauf to a special division bench. Eight appeals connected to this case will be heard by the bench on February 9. (tomorrow).
The deceased Gen. (retired) Pervez Musharraf, the five defendants, and the police officers who were found guilty of crimes all received notices, as did Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chair Asif Zardari.
A warrant is still out for the permanent arrest of Musharraf, who was charged in the case. However, following his departure, the appeal against him is likely to be denied.
Three of the five defendants, Aitzaz, Sher Zaman, and Hasnain, will testify in court; Abdul Rasheed is being imprisoned in Adiala Jail. The fifth defendant, Rafaqaat, has vanished.
Two police officers implicated in the case, Saud Aziz and Khurram Shahzad, are currently out on bail. Both received a sentence of 17 years in prison and a fine of Rs. 1 million.
On December 27, 2007, Benazir Bhutto was assassinated after giving a speech at an election rally in Rawalpindi’s renowned Liaquat Bagh. According to reports, a 15-year-old suicide bomber killed her.
