ATC seeks reply from FIA prosecutor on transactions in Musharraf’s frozen bank accounts

Pakistan

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Tuesday sought a reply from the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) special prosecutor as to how there was a significant reduction in the amounts in the frozen bank accounts of former president retired General Pervez Musharraf.

In a previous hearing of the Benazir Bhutto murder case on December 15, the court had issued arrest warrants for FIA special prosecutor Khwaja Imtiaz and FIA Station House Officer (SHO) Azmat Mahmood for failing to appear in court and not providing details of Musharraf’s assets. They were again summoned on January 15 (today).

The duo, who were present in the court today, apologised to judge Muhammad Asghar Khan for their absence in previous court proceedings. Subsequently, their arrest warrants were cancelled.

The special prosecutor provided details of Musharraf’s farmhouse, five plots and eight bank accounts to the court.

Judge Khan expressed displeasure at a significant reduction in the amounts in the frozen bank accounts of Musharraf — the main accused in the Benazir murder case as per a challan submitted by the FIA in 2013.

The FIA in its four-point charge sheet had accused Musharraf of hatching a conspiracy, in connection with the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto outside Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh on December 27, 2007.

“How is there a reduction in the bank accounts from 2016?” the court asked the prosecutor, seeking a reply explaining the activity in the frozen bank accounts.

“Why is there a difference in details of the bank accounts provided two years ago and the current amount in the accounts?” the judge questioned.

While directing the prosecutor to inform the court of the former president’s transactions, Judge Khan adjourned the hearing of the case until February 15.

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