A Pakistan court has granted bail to former military ruler Pervez Musharraf over the death of a radical cleric killed during an army operation against militants at Islamabad’s Red Mosque in 2007 where more than 100 died.
The move could pave the way for an end to Musharraf’s more than six-month house arrest. He has already been granted bail in three other cases against him.
Afshan Adil, a member of Musharraf’s legal team said his innocence would be proven: “President Musharraf will remain in this country. He will never go anywhere. God willing, in the trial, Pervez Musharraf will be acquitted very, very soon.”
The cleric’s son had brought the case against the former president. His prosecution lawyer, Wajeeh Uddin, said they would fight the decision: “We have put all the evidence, including legal references, but unfortunately the verdict given was against justice and the law, so we will challenge it in the higher court.”
The 70-year-old Musharraf returned from exile earlier this year to stand in elections. However he was detained over the pending cases and barred from running for office for the rest of his life.
