Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf has been acquitted in a murder case involving the killing of a nationalist leader in a military operation.

An anti-terrorism court announced the verdict in the south-western city of Quetta on Monday, according to prosecution and defence lawyers.

Mr Musharraf's lawyer Akhtar Shah said the court accepted his argument that his client has nothing to do with the killing.

Mr Musharraf's government had launched a crackdown on separatist insurgents in Baluchistan province, which led to the killing of Akbar Bugti in a raid in 2006.

Separatists in Baluchistan province want complete autonomy and have been fighting for a greater share of revenue from their region's natural resources.

Mr Bugti's counsel Sohail Rajput said he will appeal the verdict in a higher court.

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