QUETTA: Former president retired General Pervez Musharraf did not appear on Monday before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) hearing the Nawab Akbar Bugti murder case and the court directed the two guarantors who had filed surety bonds to ensure his presence on May 19.

Expressing displeasure, ATC judge Tariq Anwar Kasi asked guarantors Nazir Ahmed and Mumtaz why the suspect was not present.

The court has issued five production orders so far, but the suspect did not appear.

The guarantors submitted that Mr Musharraf was sick and could not appear before the court.

However, the court asked them to ensure that he attend the next hearing. Former interior minister and Qaumi Watan Party leader Aftab Sherpao and former provincial home minister Mir Shoaib Nausherwani were present in the court.

Advocate Sohail Rajput, the counsel for Nawabzada Jamil Akbar Bugti, said the accused was avoiding the court to prolong the case proceedings.

Mr Bugti has nominated Mr Musharraf, then prime minister Shaukat Aziz, former governor Owais Ahmed Ghani, the late Jam Mohammad Yousuf, Mr Sherpao, Mr Nausherwani and former district coordination officer of Dera Bugti Abdul Samad Lasi in the FIR lodged at the Dera Bugti police station.