Pervez PervMusharraf
... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ...
in the 2007 liquidation case of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto
... 11th Prime Minister of Pakistain in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996. She was the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder of the Pakistain People's Party, who was murdered at the instigation of General Ayub Khan. She was murdered in her turn by person or persons unknown while campaigning in late 2007. Suspects include, to note just a few, Baitullah Mehsud, General Pervez Musharraf, the ISI, al-Qaeda in Pakistain, and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, who shows remarkably little curiosity about who done her in...
, court officials said.
Musharraf had been accused of failing to provide security to Benazir Bhutto, who died in a suicide kaboom in December 2007.
In spite of the Anti-Terrorism Court's release order, Musharraf will remain in detention as he has also been tossed in the calaboose
Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please!
in another case of keeping judges in illegal confinement when he imposed emergency rule in 2007.
The former president has been kept at his Islamabad house over security concerns and his house has been declared sub-jail.
Last month, the Lahore High Court had rejected an application by Musharraf's lawyer for the extension of his interim bail. He was then formally arrested over the case and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), which is investigating the liquidation of Benazir Bhutto, had questioned him about the case.
Musharraf's lawyer told the court on Monday that there were no solid proofs against the former military ruler and that he should be granted bail.
Musharraf returned to Pakistain in March after nearly four years of self-exile to take part in elections and to run election campaign for his All Pakistain Mohammedan League party.
However,
a woman is only as old as she admits...
he was barred from running in the May 11 general election that led to boycott of the polls by Musharraf's party.
He is facing several serious criminal cases. Lawyers have petitioned the Supreme Court to put him on trial for treason for imposing emergency and he also faces charges over the death of Baloch leader Akbar Bugti in a 2006 military operation.