Pakistan Court Orders Seizure of Musharraf’s Property

Posted August 28th, 2011 at 6:10 am (UTC-5)
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Pakistani authorities say a court has ordered the confiscation of former president Pervez Musharraf's property and the freezing of his bank accounts in Pakistan. Officials say the court ordered the seizures Saturday.

Mr. Musharraf lives in self-imposed exile in Dubai and London since his resignation as president in 2008 after being threatened with impeachment.

He is wanted in Pakistan in connection with the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for Mr. Musharraf several times over what they say was his failure to provide Ms. Bhutto with adequate security. Mr. Musharraf has denied allegations of conspiracy to kill his political rival.

Mr. Musharraf's properties include a farmhouse in Islamabad and several residential plots.

Ms. Bhutto was killed in an attack in December 2007, while she was campaigning for her Pakistan People's Party in national elections.

Ms. Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari, led the Pakistan People's Party to victory, and is now president.

A U.N. investigation into the killing of Ms. Bhutto criticized Pakistani authorities for mishandling and impeding the probe. It also identified the Pakistani military establishment as a threat to Ms. Bhutto.

Two senior Pakistani police officers were arrested in December on charges they failed to provide adequate protection for Ms. Bhutto.