Ex-President Pervez Musharraf today failed to appear before an anti-terrorism court that was conducting trial of suspects charged with involvement in the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto. He was thus summoned again to appear in person before court on April 23.
During the closed door proceedings being held at Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, Judge Chaudry Habib-ur-Rehman summoned all accused, including ex-President Pervez Musharraf to appear before court. Earlier Pervez Mushrraf was decalred “Proclaimed Offender” when he was summoned twice to appear before the court but he faild to do so. He has been accused of failing to provide adequate security to Benazir Bhutto.
Pervez Musharraf has rejected the charges against him. He says that there was enough security provided to her. She safely delivered her speech to the masses at Liaqat Bagh and was safely escorted to her bomb proof vehicle. However, the incident only happened when she came out of her vehicle through the sunroof to wave to her supporters. He maintains that her vehicle was bomb proof, and no one else inside that vehicle got injured. Had she not come out of her vehicle, she would have not lost her life, he says. Her getting out of the car, and taking such a risk was not a problem of an improper security but of failure of those riding with her to stop her from getting out of the car.
He also maintains that, above all, being a President it was not his job to look after the security of anybody. The Executive was responsible for this job. A President has no role in providing security to anyone.
Now, Pervez Mushrraf has to appear before the court on April 23 to clarify his stance. However, it remains to be seen, whether this time he appears before the court or not.