Suspect in Musharraf Attacks Fled From Jail

An Islamic militant arrested in two assassination attempts against Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf escaped from jail two months ago, officials revealed Tuesday.

Information Minister Sheik Rashid Ahmed said authorities were still searching for the man accused in the December 2003 attacks.

A security official, who declined to give his name, identified the escapee as Mushtaq Ahmad and said he fled in November, several months after he was arrested with other militants. Ahmed declined to confirm the suspect’s name or provide details on when or where he escaped.

Musharraf was unhurt in the attacks, which occurred 11 days apart. The first, on Dec. 14, destroyed a concrete bridge moments after the president’s motorcade passed. No one was hurt. In the second, on Dec. 25, two suicide bombers tried to ram Musharraf’s limousine with explosives-laden pickup trucks. The president was unharmed, but as many as 17 people died.

Last week, Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan said a military court had convicted two soldiers of involvement in the first attempt, sentencing one to death and the other to 10 years in prison.

The authorities are also holding army and air force members on suspicion of assisting Islamic militants in the first attack.

Pakistan has said that Abu Faraj Farj, a Libyan Al Qaeda operative also known as Abu Faraj Libbi, was behind both attacks against Musharraf. He has not been captured.