Musharraf begged pardon for Bugti's murder: Jamil Bugti
QUETTA: Nawabzada Jamil Bugti, son of Baloch chieftain Nawab Akbar Bugti, claimed on Wednesday that former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf through his lawyer begged pardon over the 'murder' of the slain leader.
Talking to DawnNews, Jamil Bugti maintained that during the hearing of Akbar Bugti's murder case in an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) he out rightly rejected a request made by Musharraf's counsel for pardoning the former president for his father's murder.
"The lawyer requested me to pardon Pervez Musharraf, I out rightly rejected his request," Jamil Bugti told DawnNews, adding that he feels "it is 'unethical' on the part of a lawyer to seek pardon for his client inside the court".
However, the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) rejected Bugti's assertion and termed it a propaganda against the former president. "Musharraf is not guilty of any crime and cannot make such request", the party said.
APML's secretary information Aasia Ishaque termed Jamil Bugti's assertion a 'drama' to become the chief of Bugti clan after his father.
She said that Jamil Bugti's statement regarding the apology "is a blatant lie as Pervez Musharraf has done nothing wrong".
Related: Akbar Bugti's son files plea seeking exhumation of father's body
Jamil Bugti had also moved court seeking exhumation of his father's body for carrying out a DNA test by an international forensics team, the court had accepted his plea on December 24.
In a separate application, Nawabzada Bugti also requested the court to summon the members of a parliamentary committee who had met Akbar Bugti following the violence in Dera Bugti in March 2005 in which dozens were killed.
Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was killed in August 2006 in an explosion in a cave where he had taken refuge during a military crackdown ordered by Musharraf who was the president and the army chief at that time.
Related: Brahamdagh Bugti willing to negotiate with govt: BBC
An anti-terrorism court in January earlier this year charged former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, former interior minister and Qaumi Watan Party leader Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and former home minister of Balochistan Mir Shoaib Nausherwani in the Nawab Akbar Bugti murder case, but all of them pleaded not guilty.
One of Akbar Bugti's grand sons, Brahamdagh Bugti, said in an August interview that he was ready to give up his demand for an independent Balochistan if the Baloch desired so. The government is also engaged in negotiations with the Khan of Kalat, Mir Suleman Dawood.