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Pervez Musharraf declared absconder, 17 years in jail for 2 cops in Benazir Bhutto assassination case

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An Anti-Terrorism court in Rawalpindi ordered that all properties owned by former Pakistan President General (retd) Musharraf should be seized, five suspects – all operatives of banned terror outfit Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) acquitted

An Anti-Terrorism court in Rawalpindi, on Thursday, declared former Pakistan president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf an “absconder” and ordered that the State seized all properties owned by him. The court’s order came while it declaring its verdict in the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was killed in a suicide attack on December 27, 2007 while campaigning for her party at Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh.

Musharraf, who is the key accused in Benazir’s assassination, has been living in London since November 23, 2008, under a self-imposed exile. He had resigned from the post of Pakistan’s president on August 18, 2008 after facing threats of being impeached when Bhutto’s political outfit, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) swept the federal elections in the country earlier the same year, riding on a sympathy wave due to its leader’s death.

Pervez MusharrafThe Rawalpindi anti-terror court also awarded a total of 17 years in jail term for Saud Aziz, who was police chief of Rawalpindi when Bhutto was assassinated, and Khurram Shahzad, a former Superintendent of Police (SP) at Rawal Town. Aziz and Shahzad have each been awarded 10 years in prison under Section 119 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and seven years each under Section 201 of the PPC. They have also been fined Rs 5,00,000 each with the caveat that if they fail to pay this fine, they will be liable to spend another six months in jail. The two, who were out on bail, were present in the court premises for the pronouncement of the verdict and were immediately taken into custody by the police.

Five suspects, Rafaqat Hussain, Husnain Gul, Sher Zaman, Aitzaz Shah and Abdul Rashid, all alleged operatives of the banned terror outfit Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have been acquitted on all charges in the case.

Aziz had been charged of abetting the murder of Benazir Bhutto as he ordered the transfer of then Rawalpindi superintendent of police Ashfaq Anwar from Benazir Bhutto’s rally to Sadiqabad. The prosecution also blamed him for not conducting an autopsy of the slain PPP chief.

Benazir Bhutto at her Liaquat Bagh rally minutes before she was assassinated

Benazir Bhutto at her Liaquat Bagh rally minutes before she was assassinated

ATC judge Asghar Khan, had on Wednesday, reserved his verdict in the case after recording closing arguments by the prosecutor, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and counsels for the accused.

In January 2008, shortly after Bhutto’s assassination, the Rawalpindi police had registered a FIR in the case and trial of the five TTP suspects had started in the following month. The case was later handed over to the FIA after PPP won the 2008 general election.

In his concluding arguments before the Rawalpindi court, counsel for FIA, Mohammad Azhar Chaudhary had reiterated the agency’s stand that the assassination of Bhutto was ordered by Pervez Musharaff. Chaudhary had rejected claims that the TTP acted alone in executing the former Pakistan Prime Minister and had rubbished reports about a telephonic conversation between an ex-TTP chief and a cleric in which the former hailed the 5 suspected terrorists – who were acquitted by the court on Thursday – for executing the attack successfully.

The FIA counsel claimed that Musharraf, through his close aide former director general of the National Crisis Management Cell Brigadier (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema, had developed the “fake evidence to save himself and mislead the investigators”.

Chaudhary also blamed Saud Aziz for his involvement in the killing, asserting that Aziz did not allow an autopsy to be conducted for Bhutto despite the medico-legal procedure being required under protocol.

According to Dawn News, Ghanim Aabir, the counsel for Saud Aziz, refusing the allegation levelled by the FIA counsel argued that Anwar had been transferred following the firing incident on motorcade of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on the Islamabad Expressway around the same time when Bhutto was on her poll campaign trail in Sadiqbad and Rawalpindi. Aabir also claimed that arrangements for the autopsy had been made by Aziz but the procedure was not conducted as the consent of Bhutto’s husband, Asif Ali Zardari had not been received. He further said that a post-mortem on Bhutto’s body was not required since doctors had already identified the cause of her death as it was obvious.

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India envoy Dinesh Trivedi meets PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman 

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman amid diplomatic tensions.

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India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, a day after his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka.

According to the High Commission of India in Bangladesh, Trivedi sought PM Modi’s guidance on further strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh through a constructive and people-centric approach.

The meeting came a day after Trivedi held discussions with Tarique Rahman on matters of mutual interest and ways to advance ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Dinesh Trivedi Meets Bangladesh PM

During his meeting with Tarique Rahman on Monday, Trivedi conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Modi and reiterated India’s commitment to working with the Bangladeshi administration and its people in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner.

The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and explored avenues for strengthening India-Bangladesh relations with a people-centric approach.

The engagement took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Trivedi also shared his experience of serving in Dhaka over the previous two months.

Sheikh Hasina Extradition Request

The meeting assumed significance as Bangladesh has expressed hope that India will expedite the extradition process involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted following a student-led uprising in 2024.

According to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, Dhaka also reiterated its request for India to return individuals it alleges were involved in the killing of Shahid Osman Hadi, a prominent figure associated with the July uprising who was shot on December 12, 2025.

Tarique Rahman stressed the need to create a suitable environment to take forward relations between Bangladesh and India.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and other officials attended the meeting.

India-Bangladesh Ties Amid Diplomatic Friction

The latest high-level engagements come amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries following a virtual press interaction by Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi on August 5.

The event, organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia to mark the second anniversary of her ouster, prompted strong objections from Dhaka.

During the interaction, Hasina said she remained determined to return to Bangladesh in December and restore democracy, while acknowledging the possibility of imprisonment or a death sentence upon her return.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently registered a strong protest and said the development had affected public sentiment and complicated efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

India has said the government had no involvement in the event. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it was organised by a private media entity and clarified that New Delhi did not endorse views expressed at the forum.

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Trump, PM Modi will resolve tariff issue over Russian oil trade, says US official

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue over US tariff threats linked to India’s Russian oil trade.

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US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue surrounding the threat of US tariffs linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said on Tuesday.

Navarro’s remarks came days after the US Senate passed a bill authorising the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top five purchasers of Russian oil. The measure argues that such purchases directly contribute to financing Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Navarro comments on India’s Russian oil trade

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Navarro said India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia before the Ukraine war began in 2022.

He alleged that India became heavily involved in the trade after Russia’s invasion and sold refined products on behalf of Russia, which he said helped support the Russian war effort.

“Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia, but afterwards it got heavily involved,” Navarro said.

The White House adviser also claimed that the issue had since been resolved and attributed some of the shift in India’s Russian oil trade to an opinion article he recently wrote in the Financial Times.

Trump and Modi will resolve issue, Navarro says

Navarro said the relationship between Trump and Modi would help address the tariff-related issue.

“The president and your prime minister have a very good working relationship. They are going to work that out amongst themselves,” he said, adding that it was not his place to intervene.

His comments come amid US concerns over countries purchasing Russian oil and proposed measures aimed at imposing additional tariffs on major buyers.

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US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill, India-China face 100% tariff risk

The US Senate has passed a Russia sanctions bill that could allow 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China.

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The US Senate has approved a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India and China.

The legislation was passed by an 86-11 vote and will now move to the US House of Representatives, which is scheduled to reconvene on August 31.

The bill is named in honour of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of Ukraine who died on July 11. Graham had pushed for tougher sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.

India and China among major Russian energy buyers

The legislation gives the US president the power to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.

India and China are among those countries, along with Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovakia.

The bill also contains an exception for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and taking steps to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

What does the Russia sanctions bill contain?

Apart from the proposed tariffs, the legislation includes sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, financial institutions and energy projects.

The bill would also expand US sanctions to older and reflagged oil tankers allegedly used by Moscow to bypass existing restrictions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

At the same time, the White House would have the option to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest.

Bill also extends Iran sanctions law

The legislation also contains a provision related to Iran. It would extend the expiration date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031.

The law penalises companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.

The bill’s passage in the Senate marks the next step in the US legislative process, but it still needs approval from the House of Representatives before it can move forward.

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