 An Islamic militant involved in an assassination attempt on President Pervez Musharraf a year ago has escaped from custody, triggering a nationwide hunt, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said Tuesday. "I confirm that Mushtaq Ahmed has escaped from custody of the air force police," Ahmed told Reuters. "He was involved in the Dec. 14, 2003, attack on President Musharraf." Last month, a military court convicted two low-ranking army officers on charges of involvement in the Dec. 14, 2003, assassination attempt. The trial of up to four other junior army officers and six air force officers was under way. The escaped prisoner, Mushtaq Ahmed, is a civilian. | Well, no, he's in the Pak Air Force. |
Officials declined to say when he had escaped. Pakistan's military establishment is extremely sensitive to talk of any dissent to Musharraf within its ranks, and admissions of officers' involvement in the assassination attempt followed earlier denials of any army involvement. |