Six get life term for plotting Musharraf’s murder

ISLAMABAD - An anti-terrorist court in Rawalpindi, the twin city of this Pakistan capital city, Tuesday sentenced six people to life imprisonment for plotting a suicide attack to kill former president Pervez Musharraf in 2008.

Justice Raja Akhlaq pronounced the verdict in Rawalpindi’s Adila jail where the case was being heard.

The six accused were sentenced to life in prison with Rs.50,000 cash penalty each. However, seven others were acquitted for lack of evidence and getting the “benefit of doubt”.

The security forces had nabbed 13 suspected terrorists June 6, 2008, from Dhok Kala Khan, a suburb of Rawalpindi, along with 300 kg of explosives and detonators in three vehicles.

They were said to be planning to assassinate Musharraf in an explosion.

Since he assumed power in a bloodless coup in 1999, the Pakistani military dictator survived at least three major attempts to kill him. He stepped down as president in 2008.

(Awais Saleem can be contacted at ians.pakistan@gmail.com)