Pakistan charges Musharraf with Bhutto murder

A Pakistani court on Tuesday charged former military ruler Pervez Musharraf with the 2007 murder of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, an unprecedented move against an ex-army chief. It is the first time a former head of Pakistan's powerful army has been charged with any crime. While few believe there is evidence to convict Musharraf, it sends a significant message that the power of the military has been challenged in recent years. Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999 and ruled until he was forced out after Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party won elections in 2008, was charged on three counts. "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, who celebrated his 70th birthday last week, denied the charges. His appearance was accompanied by massive security and he was protected by scores of security officers. Officials had said threats against his life were too severe for him to be charged on August as initially scheduled, although he had appeared in person at an earlier hearing on July 30. "The charges were read out to him in the court. He denied the charges," said Azhar. The case was adjourned until August 27. 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.