Former Pakistan president accused in Bhutto murder case

Feb 7, 2011, 11:45 GMT

Islamabad - A Pakistani court was informed Monday by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) that former president Pervez Musharraf is among the list of accused in Benazir Bhutto murder case.

The FIA has been probing the assassination of former two-time premier Bhutto in December 2007 in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Musharraf was named after statements by former chief of Rawalpindi police, Saud Aziz, and one of his deputies, Khurrum Shehzad, who are in FIA custody for negligence in failing to protect Bhutto.

The security agency also informed the court that the former president would be declared a fugitive if he failed to cooperate with the investigators.

'Musharraf was in contact with the two officers and if he does not appear for investigation, he will be declared as absconder,' FIA lawyer Chaudhry Zulfiqar said.

English-language Dawn newspaper said Aziz told police the order to change Bhutto's security plan was given by Musharraf, who also ordered the scene of the assassination be washed immediately.

Musharraf resigned in 2008 after ruling Pakistan for more than eight years when his opponents swept the general election. He has since been living in London.

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