5kg bomb recovered from Musharraf’s route to court

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Express News screengrab of the explosives found near Musharraf's farmhouse.

ISLAMABAD: A five-kilogramme bomb was recovered from former president Pervez Musharraf’s route to court, Express News reported Tuesday.

The former dictator is due to appear before the special court today to face treason charges under Article 6 for suspending, subverting and abrogating the Constitution, imposing an emergency in the country in November 2007 and detaining judges of the superior courts.

Security personnel found two pistols, a five-meter detonator wire as well as 16 bullets near his farmhouse when they were clearing his route to the National Library in Islamabad where he will be tried for high-treason.

The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) arrived at the scene and diffused the bomb which was found in a briefcase. They also cleared the area.

There will be 250 Islamabad police officers and 100 army personnel to provide security at the National Library, shipping containers were also put in place to form a security barrier to the compound.

Justice Faisal Arab, Justice Tahira Safdar and Justice Yawar Ali are on the three-member bench of the special court.

Musharraf had dismissed the treason charges against him as politically motivated and is expected to appear in person, after legal efforts to have the tribunal ruled invalid failed.

It is the first time in Pakistan’s history that a former military ruler has been put on trial for treason.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who won a third term in May’s general election, was the man Musharraf ousted in his 1999 coup and the former general’s lawyers say he is using the case to exact revenge.

Since returning from self-imposed exile in March to run in the election, Musharraf has faced a range of serious criminal cases dating back to his 1999-2008 rule.

He stands accused of murder over the death of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, killed in a gun and suicide attack in December 2007, as well as charges over the death of a rebel leader, a military raid on Lal Masjid and the detention of judges.

Musharraf was put under house arrest in April over the cases but was granted bail in each, one by one.

There have been persistent rumours that a deal would be struck to let him leave Pakistan before facing the courts to avoid a clash between the army and government.

But no deal has been forthcoming and last week, speaking publicly for the first time since his house arrest began, Musharraf vowed to stay and fight to clear his name.

5kg bomb recovered from Musharraf’s route to court – The Express Tribune

 

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The hearing delayed, Musharraf skipped the courtday, mission accomplished....