Pakistan’s former military ruler faces fresh murder charges

Pakistan police register murder charges against former ruler General Pervez Musharraf under pressure from the High Court.

The new charges are connected with the death of a cleric in Islamabad.

“The High Court ordered Islamabad police to register murder charges against Musharraf on a petition filed by the son of Rashid Ghazi,” media outlets quoted Tariq Asad, a lawyer who represented Ghazi, as saying.

Abdul Rashid Ghazi was one of more than 100 people who were killed after Pakistani troops stormed the Red Mosque in 2007.

The attack followed an eight-day siege of the mosque. The ex-military ruler is now facing several charges and has been under house arrest since his return to Pakistan six months ago.

Musharraf’s charges all date back to his nine-year rule and include murder, conspiracy to commit murder and facilitation for murder.

Top on the list is his role in the assassination of former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, in 2007. He’s also been indicted over the 2006 death of Baloch rebel leader Nawab Akbar Bugti.

The former military ruler denies the allegations and claims they are politically motivated.

Musharraf, who assumed power in a bloodless coup in 1999, was forced to step down and leave Pakistan in 2008. He’s been living in the UK and the UAE since then.

Musharraf returned from exile in March 2013 to stand in May general elections. But, he was barred from running over charges dating back to his time in power.

Musharraf has been under house arrest in his farmhouse on the edge of Islamabad since April 19 on charges of conspiracy, treason and murder.