Musharraf to be charged with Bhutto's murder next week

Islamabad: Former Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf will be charged with criminal conspiracy and murder of ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on August 6, even as his bail plea in the Akbar Bugti killing case was rejected.

Musharraf was produced in an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi amidst tight security for today's hearing in the Bhutto assassination case headed by judge Habibur Rahman.

Rehman fixed August 6 to be the date to formally charge 69-year-old Musharraf.

The former President's indictment would be an unprecedented move in a country ruled by military for more than half of its life.

The Rawalpindi court is hearing the case of the killing of two-time prime minister Bhutto.

Bhutto was assassinated in a gun-and-bomb attack outside Rawalpindi's Liaquat Bagh on December 27, 2007, while Musharraf was president. She was killed after addressing an election campaign rally in the city.

State prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar Ali told media that "Musharraf will be produced at the next hearing on August 6".

The charges relating to criminal conspiracy and murder will be read out before Musharraf and he will have to sign the charge sheet, he said.

Rehman ordered the police that the accused should be present in the court to sign the charge sheet and respond to the charges.

Musharraf was not produced in court in the last two hearings due to security reasons, prompting the judge to reprimand the police and order them to present the accused or make arrangement for hearing of the case in the jail.

Also, the judge restored the frozen bank accounts and assets of Musharraf.

The request for restoration was made by Musharraf's lawyer Ilyas Siddiqui.