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Soldier hanged to death for bid on Pervez Musharraf

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Siddiqui was found guilty of being involved in the attempt in 2003

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani soldier, Abdul Salam Siddiqui, was hanged to death in the new central jail in Multan town of Punjab province early on Saturday, for an assassination attempt on the life of President Pervez Musharraf in December 2003.

According to Pakistan television, the attempt was made on Gen. Musharraf on December 14, 2003 at the Jhanda Cheechi Bridge near GHQ in Rawalpindi. A bomb blew up the bridge minutes after Gen. Musharraf's car passed over it.

Siddiqui was court martialled and sentenced to death. He was found guilty of being involved in the assassination attempt in December 2003.

Eleven days later, again in Rawalpindi, suicide bombers attacked his motorcade, killing 15 people.

Several persons, including some low-level Army personnel, are facing trial in both cases. The case on the second assassination attempt is being heard in a court at Attock Fort.

Plea turned down

Siddiqui made a mercy plea to the Vice Chief of the Army Staff and the President, but it was turned down.

He was moved to Multan prison from Sialkot last month. His parents met him in prison on Friday.

His father has been quoted as saying that his son told him in their last meeting that he was innocent.

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