Islamabad, March 18 :A Pakistani court on Tuesday directed authorities to arrest Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud and four other by April 21, in connection with the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.

The anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi issued the order to arrest Mehsud, a man named Ikramullah who allegedly aidedthe suicide bomber who killed Bhutto, and the others during a hearing. Five accused in the case — would-be suicide bomber Aitzaz Shah, Sher Zaman, Hasnain Gul, Rafaqat and Abdul Rashid— were produced in the court on Tuesday but the chargesheet could not be filed against them as other accused were absconding.

The court postponed the hearing till April 21 and declared Mehsud and the other absconding accused as proclaimed offenders. Besides Mehsud and Ikramullah, the other absconding accused are Faiz Muhammad, Abdul Rahman and Abdullah. The anti-terrorism court ordered authorities to issue advertisements in the print and electronic media seeking information regarding Mehsud and his four associates.

Such advertisements should be circulated and displayed throughout the country, the court said. The court also directed police to arrest the absconding accused and present them before it on April 21.

Meanwhile, the same court postponed the hearing of a separate case against Hasnain Gul and Rafaqat for their alleged involvement in two other suicide attacks till April 1.

Ads By Google