PESHAWAR, Aug 4: Former federal interior minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Saturday moved Peshawar High Court to seek transit pre-arrest bail in the murder case of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.

Mr Sherpao, who is also an MNA, filed a petition before the PHC through Advocate Mohammad Nisar Tanghi, requesting the court to allow him transit bail so that he could apply for pre-arrest bail before the court concerned in Balochistan.

A single-bench comprising Justice Shahjehan Khan Akhundzada will hear the petition on Aug 6 (Monday).

Nawab Akbar Bugti was killed during a military operation on Aug 26, 2006. The complainant in the FIR is Jamil Bugti, the elder son of late Akbar Bugti. The complainant has charged in the FIR former president Gen (retired) Pervez Musharraf, former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, Balochistan former governor Owais Ahmad Ghani, Aftab Ahmad Sherpao, Balochistan former chief minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf and provincial home minister Shoaib Ahmed Nausherwani, etc.

Last month an anti-terrorism court issued non-bailable arrest warrants of the accused persons including Mr Sherpao and fixed Aug 15 for next hearing.

Mr Sherpao stated in the petition that he was not aware about commencement of the trial by ATC at Sibi and through newspaper reports he came to know that the court had issued his arrest warrant. He added that he had associated himself with the investigation in the case and had also submitted his reply to the investigation agency about the allegations levelled against him in the case.

Advocate Nisar told Dawn that Mr Sherpao was interior minister at the time but the said military operation was not launched by the interior ministry rather it was ordered by the then president, who was supreme commander of armed forces.

He added that Mr Sherpao had already clarified his position in that murder case and the investigation agency had believed him due to which he was placed in Column No.2 of the final charge sheet.

The counsel said that a panel of lawyers would appear before the court on Monday.

He stated that after getting the transit bail they would prefer to move pre-arrest bail petition before the Balochistan High Court.

He said that in the Baloch dominated areas of Balochistan the most sensitive days were Aug 14 (Independence Day) and Aug 26 (death anniversary of Akbar Bugti) and the trial court at Sibi had fixed Aug 15 for hearing.

He added that due to sensitivity of the matter it would not be possible for Mr Sherpao to appear before the trial court on that date.

Another accused in the case Jam Yousuf has already been granted interim pre-arrest bail last month by the Balochistan High Court for three weeks.