Musharraf was indicted on Benazir Bhutto’s murder

Pakistan’s ex-military ruler Pervez Musharraf was indicted Tuesday on three counts over the murder of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto who died in a gun and suicide attack in December 2007.

Bringing charges against a former army chief is an unprecedented move in a country ruled for more than half of its life by the military and considered the single most powerful institution.

It is one of a series of cases that Musharraf has faced since returning from self-imposed exile earlier this year. He seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999 and was forced out in 2008.

“He was charged with murder, criminal conspiracy for murder and facilitation for murder,” public prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar told AFP at the anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi hearing the case.

Musharraf, 69, who was bundled into the court amid high security, denied the charges and the case was adjourned until August 27.

He has been under house arrest at his plush villa on the edge of the capital Islamabad since April 19.

Officials had said threats against his life were too severe earlier this month for him to appear in court to face the charges.

“The charges were read out to him in the court. He denied the charges,” said Azhar.

“The case has been adjourned until August 27 for evidence to be brought,” he added.

Musharraf’s legal team dismissed the indictment.

“These charges are baseless. We are not afraid of the proceedings. We will follow legal procedures in the court,” his lawyer Syeda Afshan Adil told AFP.