Pakistan, former President Musharraf indicted for Bhutto murder

He is charged with murder, conspiracy to murder and aiding and abetting. Under house arrest since April, the former general could be tried for treason. The defense denies any wrongdoing and speaks of "politically” motivated charges. Court adjourned until August 27.

Islamabad (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has charged on three different counts, for the murder of opposition leader and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in December 2007. He will be prosecuted for murder, conspiracy and aiding and abetting the murder of Bhutto. The former head of state, under house arrest since last April, attended this morning's closed door hearing in Rawalpindi's anti-terrorism courts. He did not make any public statement, but forcefully rejected the allegations before the presiding judge adjourned the Court to 27 August.

It 's the first time that such serious charges have been laid against a former military ruler in Pakistan, a nation led for decades by high ranking military officials, considered the true "strong power" that maintains control of the state. Together with the former president, six other people - including four suspected Islamists and two police officers - must respond to various charges.

Benazir Bhutto was assassinated during an election rally in Rawalpindi in December 2007. At the time Musharraf laid the blame on the Taliban, accusing them of the attack. Defense lawyers have rejected the charges as "baseless." The lawyers add that they are not "intimidated" by the trial and that "due process will be applied in the trial." The former president has repeatedly said that all the allegations against him are "politically motivated", on the initiative of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his government who want to prosecute Musharraf for "treason." If convicted he faces either the death penalty or life imprisonment.

Human rights activists have called on Pakistan to prosecute Musharraf for all violations and abuses committed under his rule, in addition, a 2010 report of the United Nations says the death of Benazir Bhutto could have been avoided if the government of then President Musharraf had taken all the necessary security measures. However, experts in Pakistani politics explain that an agreement was reached behind the scenes granting Musharraf the right to travel abroad to avoid charges in court. A move orchestrated primarily by the military in an attempt to avoid serious charges against such a high ranking figure (although the past).

The former Pakistani leader came home a few months ago after four years in exile, to participate in the general elections in May, which marked the end of the leadership of Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto's widower, and Pakistan People's Party (PPP). 70 year old Musharraf is involved in a series of legal battles and is trying to avoid several charges, which include the murder of a tribal leader in Balochistan. He was also involved in savage political-institutional wrangling with the head of the Supreme Court Iftikhar Chaudhry. The Pakistani Taliban have also promised on several occasions to kill the former president, who came to power in 1999 with a military coup.