[JURIST] A Pakistani anti-terrorism court (ATC) refused Wednesday to grant bail to former president Pervez Musharraf [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] over the detention of judges in 2007 when he imposed emergency rule. Musharraf has been detained since April 19 at his Islamabad farmhouse for the detention charges as well as conspiracy to murder former prime minister Benazir Bhutto [BBC obituary; JURIST news archive]. Just two days ago, the ATC granted bail [JURIST report] to Musharraf over the murder of Bhutto. Although the judge rejected Musharraf’s most recent bail application, Musharraf can appeal to the high court.

Musharraf has had many legal troubles of late. In April the Peshawar High Court of Pakistan banned [JURIST report] him from running for public office for the rest of his life and extended his house arrest during the ongoing trial regarding the murder of Bhutto. Last week the Pakistani interim government declined [JURIST report] to try Musharraf for treason because they claimed such action would be outside the scope of their duties. In April a Pakistan court extended [JURIST report] Musharraf’s bail on charges of illegally detaining judges. In March Human Rights Watch urged [JURIST report] Pakistan to hold Musharraf accountable for alleged human rights abuses upon his return to the country. Last year Pakistani authorities pledged to arrest [JURIST report] Musharraf for his alleged involvement in Bhutto’s assassination. In August 2011 a court ordered seizure of his property [JURIST report] and froze his bank account after he failed to respond to multiple subpoenas regarding the assassination investigation.