ISLAMABAD: Former president retired General Pervez Musharraf is unwilling to testify through video link in the Benazir Bhutto murder case.

Earlier: 'Musharraf threatened Benazir before her return to Pakistan'

Gen Musharraf’s counsel Advocate Akhtar Shah during the trial proceedings of the high-profile murder case in the anti-terrorism court Rawalpindi maintained that his client was not interested in testifying through the video link.

He, however, said Gen Musharraf wanted to testify in person and before an open court for which he required foolproof security from the ministry of defence.

According to the counsel, Gen Musharraf is on the hit list of several banned and terrorist outfits and facing serious life threats.

The federal government has already declined such a request, however.

In a reply filed with the special court seized with the high treason case against the former military ruler, the government maintained, “an absconder cannot dictate his prerequisites to the court and give conditions, that too his own subjective satisfaction, as to when he will appear and for how long.”

Gen Musharraf on May 5, 2017, filed a similar application with the special court, seeking the military’s security and assurance from the court that he would be given a safe passage back to Dubai where he is currently living.

The ATC has summoned Gen Musharraf and other accused persons to record their statements.

The court, however, has separated the case of Gen Musharraf and decided to record the statements of the other accused separately.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2017