Sadichchha Pokharel

Editor (Asia: South)

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ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s former President Pervez Musharraf has yet again been accused of murder– this time for being involved in a deadly operation in Red Mosque in Islamabad, which killed more than 100 people in 2007.

The complaint was registered two weeks ago, and sparked tensions between Mosque supporters and security forces in Islamabad.

Ever since his return from self-imposed exile last year, Musharraf has been trapped in several criminal charges. He has received bail for three other cases, including the killing of Benazir Bhutto in 2007.

After being granted bail over the death of Balochistan rebel leader Akbar Bugti, Musharraf had been making preparations to leave the country. Bugti was killed during an army operation under Musharraf’s rule in 2006. However, the new charges against Musharraf will be preventing his smooth exit from the country.

Along with the Red Mosque case, Musharraf has also been convicted of suspending judges when he took over the government in 2007. He was forced out of the government when he tried and failed to suspend the chief justice, and went to exile in 2008. However, he returned to the country in 2012 to take part in elections but was banned from participating. Ironically, the election was won by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the same leader who Musharraf had overthrown in 1999.

Musharraf is also a prime target of the Taliban who have constantly threatened to kill him.

Image Courtesy:Carl Malamud (http://www.flickr.com/photos/publicresourceorg/494007798/)

Sadichchha Pokharel

Editor (Asia: South)
Sadichchha is the South Asia section editor at The Global Panorama. She is an undergraduate student at Cardiff University School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies. Sadi is interested in global health and human rights issues in developing countries, particularly Africa and South Asia. She is into campaigning/social marketing and would like to make a career in the communications for development (C4D) sector. She enjoys reading, writing and travelling.

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