Cleric murder case: Court orders Musharraf's appearance on May 22

ISLAMABAD: A local court in Islamabad accepted former president Musharraf’s request from exemption in today’s hearing in a case relating to the murder of Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Rasheed Ghazi and has ordered his appearance in its next hearing on May 22, DawnNews reported. Additional district and sessions Judge Wajid Ali was hearing the case against Musharraf. During the hearing, an acquittal plea was submitted in the court on behalf of the retired general. Musharraf’s counsel Akhtar Shah presented the stance that the Lal Masjid operation was conducted on the directives of the then-administration. He added that Deputy Commissioner Islamabad had written a letter to Triple One Brigade for conducting the operation. Shah moreover said it would be an injustice to hold Musharraf responsible for the operation. The court issued notices to the concerned parties on Musharraf's applications seeking permanent exemption from court proceedings and acquittal from murder charges. It also accepted Musharraf’s application seeking exemption from today's hearing and ordered his appearance in its next hearing on May 22. The Lal Masjid operation was a 2007 government crackdown on the controversial pro-Taliban mosque in Islamabad, which ended in a bloody eight-day siege killing at least 58 Pakistani troops and seminary students. The operation, ordered by Musharraf, followed a week-long standoff between the mosque's supporters and security forces.