By Ashraf Mumtaz
LAHORE, Jan 28: A three-member PPP delegation which visited the United States to seek support for its demand that the government entrust the investigation of Ms Benazir Bhutto’s assassination to the United Nations returned home on Monday ostensibly with no sign that the Bush administration will put pressure on President Musharraf to accept the PPP’s point of view.
Party sources, however, said the visit helped the PPP to put across its point of view to important people, including Congressmen they met during their three-day stay.
The visit was “pretty successful in terms of Congressional support for a UN probe as well as for elections on time,” the sources said. Information secretary Sherry Rehman led the delegation.
“They haven’t given any indication that they will support the PPP’s point of view,” the sources told Dawn.
The government said that the Scotland Yard team was competent to investigate the matter. However, the PPP sources said that its terms of reference were limited to finding the cause of death and it could not identify the perpetrators and financiers of the crime. The sources said that it was premature to say whether the party would accept the findings of the Scotland Yard team.
Monday, January 28, 2008
British team to return next month
By Syed Irfan Raza
ISLAMABAD, Jan 27: The Scotland Yard team investigating the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto will be returning to the country some time next month and not on January 27 as announced by the government.
The reason behind the delay could not be ascertained and the British High Commission claimed that there was no schedule for the investigators’ return.
“The Scotland Yard team is not coming back in the next three days,” the high commission’s Press Secretary Aidan Liddle told Dawn.
When it was pointed out that Pakistan’s interior ministry had announced that the team would return on January 27, the official said: “There was no such schedule of their return.”
On the other hand caretaker Interior Minister Lt-Gen (retd) Hamid Nawaz said: “We were expecting the arrival of British investigators some time between January 26 and January 27, but we do not know the reason behind the delay.”
Asked whether the foreign investigators would submit their investigation report immediately after their return to the country or would do some more investigation, the minister said: “It would be up to them whether they submit the report at their return or take more time for this.”
Eight experts of the Scotland Yard have been probing the case and five forensic experts, after collecting evidences, had left the country in the second week of this month, while the other three flew back later.
The team arrived in Islamabad on January 4 and started the investigation on January 6.
The government had announced that in the light of the evidence gathered by the investigators and statements they had recorded, they would prepare a report in the UK determining the cause of death and present it to the government of Pakistan on their return.
However, analysts said the investigators had been facing difficulty due to lack of evidence. They said that police had not cordoned off the site of assassination, rather they had hosed it down the day Ms Bhutto had been murdered, erasing valuable evidences.
Another problem for the investigators was that a post-mortem of the body had not been conducted.
ISLAMABAD, Jan 27: The Scotland Yard team investigating the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto will be returning to the country some time next month and not on January 27 as announced by the government.
The reason behind the delay could not be ascertained and the British High Commission claimed that there was no schedule for the investigators’ return.
“The Scotland Yard team is not coming back in the next three days,” the high commission’s Press Secretary Aidan Liddle told Dawn.
When it was pointed out that Pakistan’s interior ministry had announced that the team would return on January 27, the official said: “There was no such schedule of their return.”
On the other hand caretaker Interior Minister Lt-Gen (retd) Hamid Nawaz said: “We were expecting the arrival of British investigators some time between January 26 and January 27, but we do not know the reason behind the delay.”
Asked whether the foreign investigators would submit their investigation report immediately after their return to the country or would do some more investigation, the minister said: “It would be up to them whether they submit the report at their return or take more time for this.”
Eight experts of the Scotland Yard have been probing the case and five forensic experts, after collecting evidences, had left the country in the second week of this month, while the other three flew back later.
The team arrived in Islamabad on January 4 and started the investigation on January 6.
The government had announced that in the light of the evidence gathered by the investigators and statements they had recorded, they would prepare a report in the UK determining the cause of death and present it to the government of Pakistan on their return.
However, analysts said the investigators had been facing difficulty due to lack of evidence. They said that police had not cordoned off the site of assassination, rather they had hosed it down the day Ms Bhutto had been murdered, erasing valuable evidences.
Another problem for the investigators was that a post-mortem of the body had not been conducted.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Scotland Yard team ‘free’ to conduct full probe
By Syed Irfan Raza and Mohammad Asghar
ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI, Jan 23: Despite limited evidences, short investigation time and a mandate to determine only the cause of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s death, given to the Scotland Yard team, the government is reported to be trying to put the responsibility of complete investigation of the case on the British team.
Now the government is giving an impression that the foreign experts who have retuned to the UK with whatever evidences were available can investigate the case from all angles to unveil the persons involved in Ms Bhutto’s murder. However, the earlier stance of the government was that the British experts could only determine the cause of her death.
“The Scotland Yard team which is coming back to Pakistan on Jan 27 will be free to investigate the case,” Interior Ministry spokesman Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema told Dawn on Wednesday.
However, according to the working arrangements agreed between Pakistan and the UK, the Scotland Yard team could assist local investigators in the case to ‘know the cause of her death’. The primacy and responsibility for the investigation remains with Pakistani authorities.
Now when the British experts have been asked to submit their report before forthcoming general elections, the interior ministry spokesman said: “The British investigators were not confined to only determine the cause of Ms Bhutto’s death and it depends on them to also investigate the case and unveil the persons involved in the assassination.”
However, analysts were of the view that due to lack of solid evidences the Scotland Yard team would come up with no conclusion as it would have to rely on what the local investigators would tell them.
They said the British investigators had been facing difficulty in probing the case due to lack of evidence. They said police had not cordoned off the place of assassination rather they had washed it on the day of Ms Bhutto’s murder, resulting in the loss of all available evidences there.
Another difficulty the foreign detectives have been facing is that post-mortem of Ms Bhutto had not been conducted. The government had made an offer to her family to exhume her body for autopsy but the family seems to be reluctant.
The interior ministry spokesman said in his weekly press briefing on Tuesday that the Scotland Yard team would be allowed to interrogate two arrested terrorists allegedly involved in Ms Bhutto’s murder.
But, on the other hand the government made its own credibility ‘quite controversial’ by categorically rejecting a demand of the deceased chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and after her death of other leaders of the party regarding nomination of four important persons in the former government in the assassination case.
Sources in the interior ministry said the government had given very ‘short’ time to the foreign experts to determine the cause of death or investigate the case because they had been asked to complete the probe before coming elections scheduled for February 18.
“Yes we have asked them to complete the investigation before holding of the elections,” caretaker Interior Minister Lt-Gen (retd) Hamid Nawaz has said. “It would be better for all if they complete the probe before the polls,” he added.
A total of eight experts of Scotland Yard have been probing the case and five forensic experts, after collecting evidences, had left Pakistan in the second week of this month while the other three flew back on Jan 16.
Four members of the Scotland Yard team will return to Pakistan on Jan 27.
The sources said the Scotland Yard team would interrogate 15-year-old Aitzaz Shah, one of the two suspects allegedly connected with the assassination plot. He is being kept in a high security lock-up and interrogated exclusively by CID officers.
The source said CID officials were likely to record statements of Rawalpindi police officers and scrutinise the security plan for Dec 27.
The Scotland Yard’s team had gone back to the UK, leaving behind two liaison officers in Islamabad. The four returning investigators are expected to bring back some vital piece of evidence.
The sources said that the British investigators would again recreate the crime scene outside the Liaquat Bagh to help in their investigations.
Aitzaz Shah and his militant ‘handler’ Sher Zaman were arrested from Dera Ismail Khan last week.
ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI, Jan 23: Despite limited evidences, short investigation time and a mandate to determine only the cause of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s death, given to the Scotland Yard team, the government is reported to be trying to put the responsibility of complete investigation of the case on the British team.
Now the government is giving an impression that the foreign experts who have retuned to the UK with whatever evidences were available can investigate the case from all angles to unveil the persons involved in Ms Bhutto’s murder. However, the earlier stance of the government was that the British experts could only determine the cause of her death.
“The Scotland Yard team which is coming back to Pakistan on Jan 27 will be free to investigate the case,” Interior Ministry spokesman Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema told Dawn on Wednesday.
However, according to the working arrangements agreed between Pakistan and the UK, the Scotland Yard team could assist local investigators in the case to ‘know the cause of her death’. The primacy and responsibility for the investigation remains with Pakistani authorities.
Now when the British experts have been asked to submit their report before forthcoming general elections, the interior ministry spokesman said: “The British investigators were not confined to only determine the cause of Ms Bhutto’s death and it depends on them to also investigate the case and unveil the persons involved in the assassination.”
However, analysts were of the view that due to lack of solid evidences the Scotland Yard team would come up with no conclusion as it would have to rely on what the local investigators would tell them.
They said the British investigators had been facing difficulty in probing the case due to lack of evidence. They said police had not cordoned off the place of assassination rather they had washed it on the day of Ms Bhutto’s murder, resulting in the loss of all available evidences there.
Another difficulty the foreign detectives have been facing is that post-mortem of Ms Bhutto had not been conducted. The government had made an offer to her family to exhume her body for autopsy but the family seems to be reluctant.
The interior ministry spokesman said in his weekly press briefing on Tuesday that the Scotland Yard team would be allowed to interrogate two arrested terrorists allegedly involved in Ms Bhutto’s murder.
But, on the other hand the government made its own credibility ‘quite controversial’ by categorically rejecting a demand of the deceased chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and after her death of other leaders of the party regarding nomination of four important persons in the former government in the assassination case.
Sources in the interior ministry said the government had given very ‘short’ time to the foreign experts to determine the cause of death or investigate the case because they had been asked to complete the probe before coming elections scheduled for February 18.
“Yes we have asked them to complete the investigation before holding of the elections,” caretaker Interior Minister Lt-Gen (retd) Hamid Nawaz has said. “It would be better for all if they complete the probe before the polls,” he added.
A total of eight experts of Scotland Yard have been probing the case and five forensic experts, after collecting evidences, had left Pakistan in the second week of this month while the other three flew back on Jan 16.
Four members of the Scotland Yard team will return to Pakistan on Jan 27.
The sources said the Scotland Yard team would interrogate 15-year-old Aitzaz Shah, one of the two suspects allegedly connected with the assassination plot. He is being kept in a high security lock-up and interrogated exclusively by CID officers.
The source said CID officials were likely to record statements of Rawalpindi police officers and scrutinise the security plan for Dec 27.
The Scotland Yard’s team had gone back to the UK, leaving behind two liaison officers in Islamabad. The four returning investigators are expected to bring back some vital piece of evidence.
The sources said that the British investigators would again recreate the crime scene outside the Liaquat Bagh to help in their investigations.
Aitzaz Shah and his militant ‘handler’ Sher Zaman were arrested from Dera Ismail Khan last week.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Scotland Yard to be allowed to quiz suspects: Cheema
By Syed Irfan Raza
ISLAMABAD, Jan 22: The Scotland Yard team investigating into the assassination of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto would be allowed to interrogate the suspected teenager and his partner allegedly involved in the assassination plot, Interior Ministry spokesman Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema said on Tuesday.
“If they (Scotland Yard team) require, the government would facilitate them to quiz Aitzaz Shah and Sher Zaman,” Mr Cheema said.
The British team has gone home, but is expected to return in a few days and present its final report.
He said that the findings of the team would be made public soon after the report was submitted to the government.
He said the 15-year-old Aitzaz Shah and his militant ‘handler’ had been arrested in Dera Ismail Khan last week and Shah had told interrogators he was next in line to kill former prime minister had the other assassins failed.
“We have arrested them and recovered some explosives, some vests used for suicide bombing and detonators from the possession of the suspects,” Mr Cheema said.
“The suspect has made some revelations with regard to the assassination of Ms Bhutto,” the spokesman said.
He said that the boy’s information had led investigators to arrest his accomplice Sher Zaman.
Responding to a question about any link between Baitullah Mehsud and the suspects, the official said that investigators had not released any such information in this regard.
Answering a question about the inclusion in the probe of the people mentioned in a letter written by Ms Bhutto to the president before her return to the country from exile, the spokesman said: “It is unacceptable because they had been nominated six months before her assassination.”
ISLAMABAD, Jan 22: The Scotland Yard team investigating into the assassination of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto would be allowed to interrogate the suspected teenager and his partner allegedly involved in the assassination plot, Interior Ministry spokesman Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema said on Tuesday.
“If they (Scotland Yard team) require, the government would facilitate them to quiz Aitzaz Shah and Sher Zaman,” Mr Cheema said.
The British team has gone home, but is expected to return in a few days and present its final report.
He said that the findings of the team would be made public soon after the report was submitted to the government.
He said the 15-year-old Aitzaz Shah and his militant ‘handler’ had been arrested in Dera Ismail Khan last week and Shah had told interrogators he was next in line to kill former prime minister had the other assassins failed.
“We have arrested them and recovered some explosives, some vests used for suicide bombing and detonators from the possession of the suspects,” Mr Cheema said.
“The suspect has made some revelations with regard to the assassination of Ms Bhutto,” the spokesman said.
He said that the boy’s information had led investigators to arrest his accomplice Sher Zaman.
Responding to a question about any link between Baitullah Mehsud and the suspects, the official said that investigators had not released any such information in this regard.
Answering a question about the inclusion in the probe of the people mentioned in a letter written by Ms Bhutto to the president before her return to the country from exile, the spokesman said: “It is unacceptable because they had been nominated six months before her assassination.”
Monday, January 21, 2008
Mumtaz questions CIA’s ‘findings’
LARKANA, Jan 21: The Sindh National Front chairman Mumtaz Ali Bhutto said on Monday that there was no concrete evidence in the ‘findings’ of the American CIA that Al Qaeda and Baintullah Mehsood were responsible for the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
Talking to visitors in his native village Mirpur Bhutto in the Larkana district, Mr Bhutto termed the accusations a part of ‘American war against Muslims’.
“Since, Benazir called herself as Bhutto even after marriage, her assassination is the murder of a member of the Bhutto family, therefore the Bhutto community would follow the entire process of probe and would not allow any other person to get any personal or political mileage from it,” he said.
“We would approach the rulers and demand to take us into confidence about the probe into assassination of Benazir Bhutto,” Mr Bhutto said.
Mumtaz Bhutto contended that Benazir Bhutto was trapped in such a situation that a number of notorious criminals had come very close to her. “Who developed such a situation and how? This is very important question,’’ he said.—PPI
Talking to visitors in his native village Mirpur Bhutto in the Larkana district, Mr Bhutto termed the accusations a part of ‘American war against Muslims’.
“Since, Benazir called herself as Bhutto even after marriage, her assassination is the murder of a member of the Bhutto family, therefore the Bhutto community would follow the entire process of probe and would not allow any other person to get any personal or political mileage from it,” he said.
“We would approach the rulers and demand to take us into confidence about the probe into assassination of Benazir Bhutto,” Mr Bhutto said.
Mumtaz Bhutto contended that Benazir Bhutto was trapped in such a situation that a number of notorious criminals had come very close to her. “Who developed such a situation and how? This is very important question,’’ he said.—PPI
Sunday, January 20, 2008
CIA has evidence of Al Qaeda hand: paper
By Our Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan 19: The CIA chief’s claim that Baitullah Mahsud directed the attack on former prime minister Benazir Bhutto is based on “powerful” evidence the agency has collected, two major US newspapers reported on Saturday.
The New York Times also reported that the Bush administration is currently considering proposals to step up covert actions against the Al Qaeda network in Pakistan’s tribal region.
The report identified Mahsud as “a militant tribal leader in hiding” and noted that he has ties to Al Qaeda as well.
“There are powerful reasons to believe that terror networks around Baitullah Mahsud were responsible,” an American intelligence official told NYT.
Speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter, the official said that “different pieces of information” had pointed toward Mahsud’s responsibility.
CIA Director Michael J. Hayden discussed the agency’s conclusion in an interview with The Washington Post published on Friday.
On Saturday, NYT did its own story on Mr Hayden’s claim, noting that independent security analysts believe the Al Qaeda network in Pakistan is increasingly made up of “home-grown militants” who have made destabilising the government a top priority.
The report also referred to recent media statements by American intelligence officials saying that Al Qaeda has steadily built a safe haven in the mountainous tribal region Pakistan, constructing a band of makeshift compounds where both Pakistani militants and foreign fighters conduct training and planning for terrorist attacks.
The newspaper pointed out that Al Qaeda’s presence in Pakistan’s tribal areas is causing “mounting frustration” among American intelligence and counterterrorism officials, many of whom believe that the United States should take more aggressive unilateral steps to dismantle terrorist networks in this region.
In a separate report, The Los Angeles Times also quoted senior CIA officials as telling its reporters in Washington that Baitullah Mahsud was behind the Bhutto assassination.
“There is certainly no reason to doubt that Mahsud was behind this,” one such official told the newspaper.
The report, however, noted that Mahsud has denied involvement in the attack on Bhutto on Dec 27 after a political rally in Rawalpindi.
The newspaper also quoted from an interview Ms Bhutto gave to Britain’s Guardian newspaper before her death, saying that though Mahsud had reportedly threatened to send suicide bombers against her if she came back to Pakistan, the real danger came from extremist elements within the government that were opposed to her return.
“I’m not worried about Mahsud, I’m worried about the threat within the government,” she said. “People like Mahsud are just pawns. It is the forces behind them that have presided over the rise of extremism and militancy in my country.”
WASHINGTON, Jan 19: The CIA chief’s claim that Baitullah Mahsud directed the attack on former prime minister Benazir Bhutto is based on “powerful” evidence the agency has collected, two major US newspapers reported on Saturday.
The New York Times also reported that the Bush administration is currently considering proposals to step up covert actions against the Al Qaeda network in Pakistan’s tribal region.
The report identified Mahsud as “a militant tribal leader in hiding” and noted that he has ties to Al Qaeda as well.
“There are powerful reasons to believe that terror networks around Baitullah Mahsud were responsible,” an American intelligence official told NYT.
Speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter, the official said that “different pieces of information” had pointed toward Mahsud’s responsibility.
CIA Director Michael J. Hayden discussed the agency’s conclusion in an interview with The Washington Post published on Friday.
On Saturday, NYT did its own story on Mr Hayden’s claim, noting that independent security analysts believe the Al Qaeda network in Pakistan is increasingly made up of “home-grown militants” who have made destabilising the government a top priority.
The report also referred to recent media statements by American intelligence officials saying that Al Qaeda has steadily built a safe haven in the mountainous tribal region Pakistan, constructing a band of makeshift compounds where both Pakistani militants and foreign fighters conduct training and planning for terrorist attacks.
The newspaper pointed out that Al Qaeda’s presence in Pakistan’s tribal areas is causing “mounting frustration” among American intelligence and counterterrorism officials, many of whom believe that the United States should take more aggressive unilateral steps to dismantle terrorist networks in this region.
In a separate report, The Los Angeles Times also quoted senior CIA officials as telling its reporters in Washington that Baitullah Mahsud was behind the Bhutto assassination.
“There is certainly no reason to doubt that Mahsud was behind this,” one such official told the newspaper.
The report, however, noted that Mahsud has denied involvement in the attack on Bhutto on Dec 27 after a political rally in Rawalpindi.
The newspaper also quoted from an interview Ms Bhutto gave to Britain’s Guardian newspaper before her death, saying that though Mahsud had reportedly threatened to send suicide bombers against her if she came back to Pakistan, the real danger came from extremist elements within the government that were opposed to her return.
“I’m not worried about Mahsud, I’m worried about the threat within the government,” she said. “People like Mahsud are just pawns. It is the forces behind them that have presided over the rise of extremism and militancy in my country.”
Boy, key suspect held in BB murder plot
By Irfan Mughal
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Jan 19: A teenaged boy arrested on Friday told investigators he was the next in line to kill former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had the Dec 27 attempt failed, a security official told Dawn on Saturday.
“He appears to be part of the group that had planned the assassination, but not directly involved in it,” the official said in Peshawar.
The 18-year-old Aitzaz Shah, a native of Battal, in Mansehra district, used to live and study in Karachi. Aitzaz, according to the security official, also told the interrogators that he had been recruited by a cleric in Karachi and was sent to South Waziristan to train as a suicide bomber.
He said that he had trained in Makeen, South Waziristan, and knew about the group that had planned the assassination.
Aitzaz, who was arrested along with another man identified as Sher Zaman, was said to be cooperating with his interrogators.
The official said that the real catch was Sher Zaman, who was Aitzaz’s handler. “He is the real catch.”
A police official said that Aitzaz had even identified as Bilal the man who had executed the plot and then blew himself up. Bilal was a member of the Al-Badar outfit. He claimed that he was the back-up for Bilal whose facilitator was Akram. Police are looking for Akram.
Police said that the two suspects were arrested while driving into the city in a car. On search, the police also recovered explosives. Police said that the teenager had been assigned by his handlers to target a Shia procession in the city that has seen spiral of sectarian violence in the past.
“The boy seems to be implicating militant commander, Baituallah Mehsud in Benazir’s assassination,” the official said.
He said the boy and his handler would be subjected to further interrogation to find more clues about Benazir’s murder and other terrorist acts in the country. “So far, what he has said is very sketchy but we would know more as we speak to him again,” he said.
Police refused to confirm and contradict Aitzaz’s statement and Interior Ministry’s spokesman, Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema told an international wire service he had no information to share.
But a spokesman for Mr. Mehsud denied Aitzaz had any link with his group. “We have denied our involvement in Benazir’s assassination before and are strongly denying this again. We are not involved in Benazir’s murder,” Maulvi Omar told Dawn in Tank near Dera Ismail Khan.
“Yesterday, the American CIA had made a similar claim and now the police claim seems to be a continuation of the same conspiracy,” he said.—Ismail Khan contributed to this story from Peshawar and Alamgir Bittani from Tank.
Aitzaz allegedly said the attackers in the team that killed Ms Bhutto were called Bilal and Ikramullah -- the same names mentioned in an alleged telephone conversation between Mehsud and another militant the day after her death, adds AFP.
The tape was released by the interior ministry.
Aitzaz’s whereabouts at the time of the attack were not immediately clear.
One security official said he was in Rawalpindi while another said he was in Waziristan.
“The suspect was not in Rawalpindi at the time of attack on Ms Bhutto. The boy told interrogators that he was in South Waziristan,” a top police official quoted him as telling the interrogators.
One of the officials said Aitzaz was arrested during a security check when he arrived in Dera Ismail Khan by taxi from North Waziristan.
He allegedly told officials that he came to collect a suicide jacket for an attack at the US consulate in Karachi but the programme was changed because of tight security for Ashura.
Instead he was ordered to launch an attack during an Ashura procession on Sunday, the officials said.
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Jan 19: A teenaged boy arrested on Friday told investigators he was the next in line to kill former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had the Dec 27 attempt failed, a security official told Dawn on Saturday.
“He appears to be part of the group that had planned the assassination, but not directly involved in it,” the official said in Peshawar.
The 18-year-old Aitzaz Shah, a native of Battal, in Mansehra district, used to live and study in Karachi. Aitzaz, according to the security official, also told the interrogators that he had been recruited by a cleric in Karachi and was sent to South Waziristan to train as a suicide bomber.
He said that he had trained in Makeen, South Waziristan, and knew about the group that had planned the assassination.
Aitzaz, who was arrested along with another man identified as Sher Zaman, was said to be cooperating with his interrogators.
The official said that the real catch was Sher Zaman, who was Aitzaz’s handler. “He is the real catch.”
A police official said that Aitzaz had even identified as Bilal the man who had executed the plot and then blew himself up. Bilal was a member of the Al-Badar outfit. He claimed that he was the back-up for Bilal whose facilitator was Akram. Police are looking for Akram.
Police said that the two suspects were arrested while driving into the city in a car. On search, the police also recovered explosives. Police said that the teenager had been assigned by his handlers to target a Shia procession in the city that has seen spiral of sectarian violence in the past.
“The boy seems to be implicating militant commander, Baituallah Mehsud in Benazir’s assassination,” the official said.
He said the boy and his handler would be subjected to further interrogation to find more clues about Benazir’s murder and other terrorist acts in the country. “So far, what he has said is very sketchy but we would know more as we speak to him again,” he said.
Police refused to confirm and contradict Aitzaz’s statement and Interior Ministry’s spokesman, Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema told an international wire service he had no information to share.
But a spokesman for Mr. Mehsud denied Aitzaz had any link with his group. “We have denied our involvement in Benazir’s assassination before and are strongly denying this again. We are not involved in Benazir’s murder,” Maulvi Omar told Dawn in Tank near Dera Ismail Khan.
“Yesterday, the American CIA had made a similar claim and now the police claim seems to be a continuation of the same conspiracy,” he said.—Ismail Khan contributed to this story from Peshawar and Alamgir Bittani from Tank.
Aitzaz allegedly said the attackers in the team that killed Ms Bhutto were called Bilal and Ikramullah -- the same names mentioned in an alleged telephone conversation between Mehsud and another militant the day after her death, adds AFP.
The tape was released by the interior ministry.
Aitzaz’s whereabouts at the time of the attack were not immediately clear.
One security official said he was in Rawalpindi while another said he was in Waziristan.
“The suspect was not in Rawalpindi at the time of attack on Ms Bhutto. The boy told interrogators that he was in South Waziristan,” a top police official quoted him as telling the interrogators.
One of the officials said Aitzaz was arrested during a security check when he arrived in Dera Ismail Khan by taxi from North Waziristan.
He allegedly told officials that he came to collect a suicide jacket for an attack at the US consulate in Karachi but the programme was changed because of tight security for Ashura.
Instead he was ordered to launch an attack during an Ashura procession on Sunday, the officials said.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Arbab calls for probing Zardari, two guards
By Our Correspondent
MIRPURKHAS, Jan 15: Former Sindh Chief Minister and president of PML-Q, Sindh, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has urged the government to include PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Sherry Rehman as well as two bodyguards of Benazir Bhutto, Rehman Dakait and Khalid Shahenshah, in the investigation into the assassination case of Ms Bhutto, and said that there could be a number of motives behind the assassination.
He was addressing a press conference after a meeting of PML-Q candidates and office-bearers of lower Sindh at the residence of Arbab Faiz Mohammad near Naokot on Tuesday, he said the investigation should focus on people who had benefited politically and financially from the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
He said that after Muharram he would resume his election campaign in Sindh and expressed the hope that his party would win with the support of coalition partners.
He said that elections would be held on schedule if no big incident occurred. He said that economic growth and progress achieved during eight years of President Pervez Musharraf had been damaged by miscreants after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
Our Mithi correspondent adds: Speaking at public gathering in Virawah village near Nagarparkar, Dr Rahim has said that he and his supporters prefer the politics of patience and tolerance over the politics of revenge and believe in service to people without any discrimination.
Without naming Pakistan People’s Party, he said: “Some circles are trying to make a corpse the base of their politics to get votes and strengthen their party but what kind of politics is that.”
“One who has expired should be considered as dead and people should pin hopes on those who live,” he added.
He said: “I have not studied at Oxford but was born and educated in Thar and am aware of its culture and problems. My contribution can be gauged from the fact that … after becoming chief minister … not only I took bold stance on the issues concerning Sindh but also undertook projects of road network, electricity and water supply from canals across Thar, hence at present Thar is acknowledged as most developed party of the country.
“It is up to the Tharis to judge our performance. If they observe that we did not keep them on hollow slogans but endeavoured to redress their grievances, they should vote for PML candidates to enable us to carry on the remaining development projects,” Dr Rahim said.
Arbab Abdullah, Dr Ghulam Haider Samejo and Ram Singh Sodho also spoke on the occasion.
MIRPURKHAS, Jan 15: Former Sindh Chief Minister and president of PML-Q, Sindh, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has urged the government to include PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Sherry Rehman as well as two bodyguards of Benazir Bhutto, Rehman Dakait and Khalid Shahenshah, in the investigation into the assassination case of Ms Bhutto, and said that there could be a number of motives behind the assassination.
He was addressing a press conference after a meeting of PML-Q candidates and office-bearers of lower Sindh at the residence of Arbab Faiz Mohammad near Naokot on Tuesday, he said the investigation should focus on people who had benefited politically and financially from the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
He said that after Muharram he would resume his election campaign in Sindh and expressed the hope that his party would win with the support of coalition partners.
He said that elections would be held on schedule if no big incident occurred. He said that economic growth and progress achieved during eight years of President Pervez Musharraf had been damaged by miscreants after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
Our Mithi correspondent adds: Speaking at public gathering in Virawah village near Nagarparkar, Dr Rahim has said that he and his supporters prefer the politics of patience and tolerance over the politics of revenge and believe in service to people without any discrimination.
Without naming Pakistan People’s Party, he said: “Some circles are trying to make a corpse the base of their politics to get votes and strengthen their party but what kind of politics is that.”
“One who has expired should be considered as dead and people should pin hopes on those who live,” he added.
He said: “I have not studied at Oxford but was born and educated in Thar and am aware of its culture and problems. My contribution can be gauged from the fact that … after becoming chief minister … not only I took bold stance on the issues concerning Sindh but also undertook projects of road network, electricity and water supply from canals across Thar, hence at present Thar is acknowledged as most developed party of the country.
“It is up to the Tharis to judge our performance. If they observe that we did not keep them on hollow slogans but endeavoured to redress their grievances, they should vote for PML candidates to enable us to carry on the remaining development projects,” Dr Rahim said.
Arbab Abdullah, Dr Ghulam Haider Samejo and Ram Singh Sodho also spoke on the occasion.
PPP sends plea to UN today
By Shamim-ur-Rahman
KARACHI, Jan 15: The Pakistan People’s Party would dispatch a long-awaited petition to the United Nations on Wednesday, requesting it to launch an investigation into the assassination of its slain chairperson Benazir Bhutto, said its co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday.
Coinciding with the dispatch of the petition, said Mr Zardari, the People’s Party would be launching an international initiative under which governments other than Pakistan’s would be explained why an investigation under the auspices of the UN was needed. Delegations would be sent to several countries, asking them to persuade Islamabad to allow a UN probe.
Speaking at a press conference in the Bilawal House, he said the government’s claim that Ms Bhutto was murdered by the operatives of Al Qaeda had lent weight to the PPP’s demand for a probe by the world body.
“The regime itself has been calling it the handiwork of Al Qaeda, which is an international organisation with bases outside Pakistan. If that indeed is the case, there is all the more reason why the UN must be requested to investigate,” remarked Mr Zardari in reply to a question.
He said he already had discussions on the subject with people like former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan and Asma Jehangir, who had supported his party’s stance. After Ms Bhutto’s assassination, the UN had expressed willingness to assist in the investigations, if requested by the Pakistan government.
Flanked by Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Sherry Rehman, Raza Rabbani, Dr Fehmida Mirza, Naveed Qamar, Nafees Siddiqui, N.D. Khan and Rashid Rabbani, Mr Zardari dwelt at length on several issues, including the reasons why the PPP wanted a UN probe, his meeting with Scotland Yard investigators, allegations of pre-poll rigging against the Musharraf government and the law and order situation obtaining in the country.
He said the PPP had been calling for a
UN investigation because it had no faith in the probe ordered by the Musharraf government. Pakistani investigators were in no position to “expose the hidden but powerful hands behind the conspiracy” to eliminate Ms Bhutto. The PPP’s co-chairman was of the view that the government’s act of inviting a Scotland Yard team to look into his wife’s murder was tantamount to admitting that any probe by Pakistani agencies was inadequate.
The PPP even questioned the terms of reference of the investigations undertaken by the Scotland Yard team, he said, because they pertained only to the cause of Ms Bhutto’s death and not to the “perpetrators and organisers of the plot behind it”.
Soon after the bombing during a PPP rally in Karachi on Oct 18, the UN had called upon all nations to assist in exposing “the perpetrators, financiers, planners and organisers” of the plot, said Mr Zardari. “That resolution of the UN is also binding on Pakistan.”
Speaking of the “influential suspects” who had been mentioned in a letter from Ms Bhutto to Gen Musharraf, he said Pakistani agencies were not in a position to interrogate them. Their names would be disclosed at an appropriate time, as the probe proceeded.
The People’s Party leader also referred to Ms Bhutto’s letter to Mark Seigel a few days before her assassination, which he maintained, was her “dying declaration”. This letter too could not be taken into account by Pakistani investigators.
Answering a question about his meetings with the Scotland Yard detectives, Mr Zardari said he had to come down to Karachi to meet them because the government had not allowed the investigators to visit Naudero. He said his party had placed some material before the team of British experts.
He made it clear that he and his party members would be responding to any queries made by the Scotland Yard team. He parried a question about the British detectives’ findings, saying their probe was an ongoing one and it would be premature to disclose anything at the moment.
The PPP chief said his party would behave in a responsible manner as it had always struggled for democracy and rule of law. Benazir Bhutto believed in these values and the PPP would not let her down in any way.
“The Pakistani Gorbachevs are rubbing salt into the wounds of the people and the PPP. But we will continue to struggle and safeguard the federation despite receiving bodies of martyrs.” Mr Zardari said the present leadership of the PPP was committed to the ideals of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.
He said the government was trying to deceive the people over Ms Bhutto’s post-mortem, which was not carried out for a full six hours after her death. “They didn’t need my permission during that period to conduct a post-mortem. It was incumbent upon them under the medico-legal laws to get it done.”
Mr Zardari said that when he reached Rawalpindi, about six hours after his wife’s death, the authorities sought his permission to carry out a post-mortem. “But I had decided by that time to turn down their offer.”
Asked to comment on President Musharraf’s recent remarks that Ms Bhutto was not popular in the army, the PPP co-chairman said it was not Gen Ziaul Haq’s son who won elections in Rawalpindi but the PPP’s own Zamurrad Khan.
“The PPP wins elections from every cantonment, which shows how Benazir Bhutto is respected there as PPP belongs to all Pakistanis.”
In reply to a question about polls, the PPP chief said his party would not let “the Gorbachev” avoid elections. He urged the people to turn out in large numbers on Feb 18 to cast their votes.
Mr Zardari added that the Bilawal House, Karachi, was the property of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the PPP would seek his permission to establish a museum there.
KARACHI, Jan 15: The Pakistan People’s Party would dispatch a long-awaited petition to the United Nations on Wednesday, requesting it to launch an investigation into the assassination of its slain chairperson Benazir Bhutto, said its co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday.
Coinciding with the dispatch of the petition, said Mr Zardari, the People’s Party would be launching an international initiative under which governments other than Pakistan’s would be explained why an investigation under the auspices of the UN was needed. Delegations would be sent to several countries, asking them to persuade Islamabad to allow a UN probe.
Speaking at a press conference in the Bilawal House, he said the government’s claim that Ms Bhutto was murdered by the operatives of Al Qaeda had lent weight to the PPP’s demand for a probe by the world body.
“The regime itself has been calling it the handiwork of Al Qaeda, which is an international organisation with bases outside Pakistan. If that indeed is the case, there is all the more reason why the UN must be requested to investigate,” remarked Mr Zardari in reply to a question.
He said he already had discussions on the subject with people like former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan and Asma Jehangir, who had supported his party’s stance. After Ms Bhutto’s assassination, the UN had expressed willingness to assist in the investigations, if requested by the Pakistan government.
Flanked by Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Sherry Rehman, Raza Rabbani, Dr Fehmida Mirza, Naveed Qamar, Nafees Siddiqui, N.D. Khan and Rashid Rabbani, Mr Zardari dwelt at length on several issues, including the reasons why the PPP wanted a UN probe, his meeting with Scotland Yard investigators, allegations of pre-poll rigging against the Musharraf government and the law and order situation obtaining in the country.
He said the PPP had been calling for a
UN investigation because it had no faith in the probe ordered by the Musharraf government. Pakistani investigators were in no position to “expose the hidden but powerful hands behind the conspiracy” to eliminate Ms Bhutto. The PPP’s co-chairman was of the view that the government’s act of inviting a Scotland Yard team to look into his wife’s murder was tantamount to admitting that any probe by Pakistani agencies was inadequate.
The PPP even questioned the terms of reference of the investigations undertaken by the Scotland Yard team, he said, because they pertained only to the cause of Ms Bhutto’s death and not to the “perpetrators and organisers of the plot behind it”.
Soon after the bombing during a PPP rally in Karachi on Oct 18, the UN had called upon all nations to assist in exposing “the perpetrators, financiers, planners and organisers” of the plot, said Mr Zardari. “That resolution of the UN is also binding on Pakistan.”
Speaking of the “influential suspects” who had been mentioned in a letter from Ms Bhutto to Gen Musharraf, he said Pakistani agencies were not in a position to interrogate them. Their names would be disclosed at an appropriate time, as the probe proceeded.
The People’s Party leader also referred to Ms Bhutto’s letter to Mark Seigel a few days before her assassination, which he maintained, was her “dying declaration”. This letter too could not be taken into account by Pakistani investigators.
Answering a question about his meetings with the Scotland Yard detectives, Mr Zardari said he had to come down to Karachi to meet them because the government had not allowed the investigators to visit Naudero. He said his party had placed some material before the team of British experts.
He made it clear that he and his party members would be responding to any queries made by the Scotland Yard team. He parried a question about the British detectives’ findings, saying their probe was an ongoing one and it would be premature to disclose anything at the moment.
The PPP chief said his party would behave in a responsible manner as it had always struggled for democracy and rule of law. Benazir Bhutto believed in these values and the PPP would not let her down in any way.
“The Pakistani Gorbachevs are rubbing salt into the wounds of the people and the PPP. But we will continue to struggle and safeguard the federation despite receiving bodies of martyrs.” Mr Zardari said the present leadership of the PPP was committed to the ideals of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.
He said the government was trying to deceive the people over Ms Bhutto’s post-mortem, which was not carried out for a full six hours after her death. “They didn’t need my permission during that period to conduct a post-mortem. It was incumbent upon them under the medico-legal laws to get it done.”
Mr Zardari said that when he reached Rawalpindi, about six hours after his wife’s death, the authorities sought his permission to carry out a post-mortem. “But I had decided by that time to turn down their offer.”
Asked to comment on President Musharraf’s recent remarks that Ms Bhutto was not popular in the army, the PPP co-chairman said it was not Gen Ziaul Haq’s son who won elections in Rawalpindi but the PPP’s own Zamurrad Khan.
“The PPP wins elections from every cantonment, which shows how Benazir Bhutto is respected there as PPP belongs to all Pakistanis.”
In reply to a question about polls, the PPP chief said his party would not let “the Gorbachev” avoid elections. He urged the people to turn out in large numbers on Feb 18 to cast their votes.
Mr Zardari added that the Bilawal House, Karachi, was the property of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the PPP would seek his permission to establish a museum there.
Oct 18 suspects held
Interior Minister Lt-Gen (retd) Hamid Nawaz on Tuesday claimed that the government had arrested a number of terrorists believed to be involved in the attack on PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto’s home-coming procession in Karachi on Oct 18.
Inaugurating the newly-constructed building of the Tarnol Police Station, the minister said the men were also behind terrorist attacks in Rawalpindi and the blowing up of an Air Force bus.
He did not comment when asked if the accused had any links with the terrorists who had assassinated the former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. He said the men were arrested in Mianwali and Sargodha and over 60kg explosive material had been seized.
Mr Hamid did not disclose the names of the terrorists saying that security agencies were trying to catch their accomplices.
He said that security forces would soon arrest Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud and militant Swat cleric Maulana Fazalullah.
Inaugurating the newly-constructed building of the Tarnol Police Station, the minister said the men were also behind terrorist attacks in Rawalpindi and the blowing up of an Air Force bus.
He did not comment when asked if the accused had any links with the terrorists who had assassinated the former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. He said the men were arrested in Mianwali and Sargodha and over 60kg explosive material had been seized.
Mr Hamid did not disclose the names of the terrorists saying that security agencies were trying to catch their accomplices.
He said that security forces would soon arrest Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud and militant Swat cleric Maulana Fazalullah.
Resolution in US House praises Pakistan for seeking Yard’s help
By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Jan 15: A new resolution introduced in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday commends Pakistans decision to involve the Scotland Yard in investigating the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto but does not support her party’s demand for a UN-led inquiry.
The full House of Representatives is expected to vote on the measure on Wednesday morning.
The mover, Congressman Gary Ackerman, chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. The panel has jurisdiction over US policy towards Pakistan as well as all other countries located in the two regions.
PPP supporters in Washington were lobbying for a harsher resolution and wanted it to support their demand for a UN-led probe into the murder.
Since Mr Ackerman is a leading critic of the Musharraf government, the resolution had alarmed the government’s supporters in Washington as they feared that it may seek new restrictions against Islamabad.
The US Congress already has two pending resolutions on Pakistan, both strongly supporting pro-democracy forces in the country. Both the resolutions seek punitive actions against the Musharraf government for suppressing political forces and placing new restrictions on the media and the judiciary.
But the resolution, released by Mr Ackerman’s office, seeks no such restrictions. It does condemn, “in the strongest terms”, the assassination of Ms Bhutto but takes on position on contentious issues like who killed her, who should conduct the inquiry and on whether the government failed to make adequate arrangements for her security.
It “welcomes the provision of assistance by the government of the United Kingdom of expertise to the government of Pakistan in the conduct of the investigation of the attack”.
The resolution “commends the government of Pakistan for accepting such assistance and urges that government to allow experts from the United Kingdom to participate in such investigation”.
Mr Ackerman, however, said that his resolution “formally expresses to the world, the outrage and dismay of the House regarding the cruel and cowardly assassination” of Ms Bhutto. “It also expresses our unwavering support -- in the wake of this brutal attack -- for Pakistan to be restored to a full democracy.”
The resolution reaffirms the US commitment to assisting the people of Pakistan in combating terrorism, and promoting a free and democratic Pakistan.
It also supports efforts by the government of Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice those responsible for the assassination and expresses condolences to the Bhutto family and the families of all those who were killed or injured in the attack.
In addition, the resolution urges the people and government of Pakistan to be relentless in their pursuit of a democratically-elected government, including the holding of free and fair elections at the earliest possible opportunity.
Further, the measure expresses support for the freedom of the media, the ability of political parties to express their views without restriction and the independence of the judiciary in Pakistan.
In the wake of Ms Bhutto’s assassination and the continuing unrest in Pakistan, Mr Ackerman has scheduled a Middle East and South Asia Subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, entitled “US-Pakistan Relations: Assassination, Instability and the Future of US Policy”.
The hearing will focus on Americas future relations with Pakistan in the wake of Ms Bhutto’s assassination and the prospects for a return to political stability. In addition, the hearing will examine US assistance to Pakistan.
WASHINGTON, Jan 15: A new resolution introduced in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday commends Pakistans decision to involve the Scotland Yard in investigating the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto but does not support her party’s demand for a UN-led inquiry.
The full House of Representatives is expected to vote on the measure on Wednesday morning.
The mover, Congressman Gary Ackerman, chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. The panel has jurisdiction over US policy towards Pakistan as well as all other countries located in the two regions.
PPP supporters in Washington were lobbying for a harsher resolution and wanted it to support their demand for a UN-led probe into the murder.
Since Mr Ackerman is a leading critic of the Musharraf government, the resolution had alarmed the government’s supporters in Washington as they feared that it may seek new restrictions against Islamabad.
The US Congress already has two pending resolutions on Pakistan, both strongly supporting pro-democracy forces in the country. Both the resolutions seek punitive actions against the Musharraf government for suppressing political forces and placing new restrictions on the media and the judiciary.
But the resolution, released by Mr Ackerman’s office, seeks no such restrictions. It does condemn, “in the strongest terms”, the assassination of Ms Bhutto but takes on position on contentious issues like who killed her, who should conduct the inquiry and on whether the government failed to make adequate arrangements for her security.
It “welcomes the provision of assistance by the government of the United Kingdom of expertise to the government of Pakistan in the conduct of the investigation of the attack”.
The resolution “commends the government of Pakistan for accepting such assistance and urges that government to allow experts from the United Kingdom to participate in such investigation”.
Mr Ackerman, however, said that his resolution “formally expresses to the world, the outrage and dismay of the House regarding the cruel and cowardly assassination” of Ms Bhutto. “It also expresses our unwavering support -- in the wake of this brutal attack -- for Pakistan to be restored to a full democracy.”
The resolution reaffirms the US commitment to assisting the people of Pakistan in combating terrorism, and promoting a free and democratic Pakistan.
It also supports efforts by the government of Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice those responsible for the assassination and expresses condolences to the Bhutto family and the families of all those who were killed or injured in the attack.
In addition, the resolution urges the people and government of Pakistan to be relentless in their pursuit of a democratically-elected government, including the holding of free and fair elections at the earliest possible opportunity.
Further, the measure expresses support for the freedom of the media, the ability of political parties to express their views without restriction and the independence of the judiciary in Pakistan.
In the wake of Ms Bhutto’s assassination and the continuing unrest in Pakistan, Mr Ackerman has scheduled a Middle East and South Asia Subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, entitled “US-Pakistan Relations: Assassination, Instability and the Future of US Policy”.
The hearing will focus on Americas future relations with Pakistan in the wake of Ms Bhutto’s assassination and the prospects for a return to political stability. In addition, the hearing will examine US assistance to Pakistan.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Zardari in Karachi to meet UK investigators
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 14: Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari made a surprise visit to the metropolis on Monday evening to meet the Scotland Yard team and the British High Commissioner.
PPP Central Information Secretary Sherry Rehman rejected rumours about a meeting between Mr Zardari and President Musharraf as ‘disinformation and baseless speculation’.
Ms Rehman said Mr Zardari was visiting Karachi to meet the British High Commissioner and members of the Scotland Yard team conducting an investigation into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
The meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday morning. British officials had not been granted permission and security clearance by the Pakistan government to travel to Naudero.
Ms Rehman said her party remained committed to its demand for a wider international probe into the events that led to the December 27 tragedy and continued to seek a UN-led inquiry to find out the sponsors, organisers, financiers and perpetrators behind the murder of its chairperson.
“Benazir Bhutto was a leader of international stature. Her assassination represents an attack on the stability and federal structure of Pakistan. It represents an attack on the politics of peace and democracy for the entire region, and the forces that conspired to kill her are the same forces that seek the destruction of Pakistan, which poses a clear and present danger for the region.
“The party will use all its resources to seek the UN-led independent international probe into this heinous act of terrorism and bring the culprits, as well as the hidden hands behind it, to justice,” she said.
KARACHI, Jan 14: Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari made a surprise visit to the metropolis on Monday evening to meet the Scotland Yard team and the British High Commissioner.
PPP Central Information Secretary Sherry Rehman rejected rumours about a meeting between Mr Zardari and President Musharraf as ‘disinformation and baseless speculation’.
Ms Rehman said Mr Zardari was visiting Karachi to meet the British High Commissioner and members of the Scotland Yard team conducting an investigation into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
The meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday morning. British officials had not been granted permission and security clearance by the Pakistan government to travel to Naudero.
Ms Rehman said her party remained committed to its demand for a wider international probe into the events that led to the December 27 tragedy and continued to seek a UN-led inquiry to find out the sponsors, organisers, financiers and perpetrators behind the murder of its chairperson.
“Benazir Bhutto was a leader of international stature. Her assassination represents an attack on the stability and federal structure of Pakistan. It represents an attack on the politics of peace and democracy for the entire region, and the forces that conspired to kill her are the same forces that seek the destruction of Pakistan, which poses a clear and present danger for the region.
“The party will use all its resources to seek the UN-led independent international probe into this heinous act of terrorism and bring the culprits, as well as the hidden hands behind it, to justice,” she said.
Six UK experts leave to analyse evidence
By Mohammad Asghar
RAWALPINDI, Jan 14: Six investigators of the Scotland Yard team helping the local authorities in investigation into the assassination of Pakistan People’s Party chairperson Benazir Bhutto left for the United Kingdom on Monday to analyse evidence collected so far, official sources said.
“They have gone back to the UK to analyse whatever they have collected from here and are expected back on Jan 27,” the sources said.
Four members of the team who have stayed here will resume their work after a day’s break on Wednesday.
The investigators took to the UK with them samples of human tissues, evidence collected from the site of the blast and brain matter from Ms Bhutto’s car. They will analyse the material collected from the car.
“The investigators had sent some of the samples through
courier service while they took the remaining material with them,” the source said. “They will reconstruct the crime scene in three dimensions and analyse it.”
Two Scotland Yard investigators went to the Combined Military Hospital and met Deputy Superintendent of Police Ishtiaq Hussain Shah, who was wounded during the gun and suicide bomb attack on Ms Bhutto on Dec 27.
The investigators stayed with the police official for nearly one hour. Later they went to the pathology laboratory and examined some body parts believed to be of the suicide bomber.
On Sunday, the investigators had visited the site of the attack and two government hospitals -- one where Ms Bhutto had been taken and the other where the remaining injured were treated.
During their visit to Liaquat Bagh, the investigators installed electronic devices on rooftops within a radius of 200 metres from the site, taking photographs.
The team examined the parking area where Ms Bhutto’s vehicle had come under attack.
In the Rawalpindi General Hospital, two of the experts were taken to the emergency section and the operation theatre.
Sources in the hospital said the foreign experts talked to the radiologists who had taken Ms Bhutto’s X-rays. An investigator also talked with other hospital staff.
The foreign experts asked questions regarding the timing of X-rays, the sources said.
“The atmosphere in the operation theatre was quite different from Dec 27 as several things have been changed,” the sources claimed.
A forensics expert went to the District Headquarters Hospital and examined two human legs – a pair of sandals and two socks believed to be of the suicide bomber.
The forensic expert took tissue samples from the legs and some photographs.
A police official told the expert he believed that the same type of sandals had been found in two earlier suicide bombings.
RAWALPINDI, Jan 14: Six investigators of the Scotland Yard team helping the local authorities in investigation into the assassination of Pakistan People’s Party chairperson Benazir Bhutto left for the United Kingdom on Monday to analyse evidence collected so far, official sources said.
“They have gone back to the UK to analyse whatever they have collected from here and are expected back on Jan 27,” the sources said.
Four members of the team who have stayed here will resume their work after a day’s break on Wednesday.
The investigators took to the UK with them samples of human tissues, evidence collected from the site of the blast and brain matter from Ms Bhutto’s car. They will analyse the material collected from the car.
“The investigators had sent some of the samples through
courier service while they took the remaining material with them,” the source said. “They will reconstruct the crime scene in three dimensions and analyse it.”
Two Scotland Yard investigators went to the Combined Military Hospital and met Deputy Superintendent of Police Ishtiaq Hussain Shah, who was wounded during the gun and suicide bomb attack on Ms Bhutto on Dec 27.
The investigators stayed with the police official for nearly one hour. Later they went to the pathology laboratory and examined some body parts believed to be of the suicide bomber.
On Sunday, the investigators had visited the site of the attack and two government hospitals -- one where Ms Bhutto had been taken and the other where the remaining injured were treated.
During their visit to Liaquat Bagh, the investigators installed electronic devices on rooftops within a radius of 200 metres from the site, taking photographs.
The team examined the parking area where Ms Bhutto’s vehicle had come under attack.
In the Rawalpindi General Hospital, two of the experts were taken to the emergency section and the operation theatre.
Sources in the hospital said the foreign experts talked to the radiologists who had taken Ms Bhutto’s X-rays. An investigator also talked with other hospital staff.
The foreign experts asked questions regarding the timing of X-rays, the sources said.
“The atmosphere in the operation theatre was quite different from Dec 27 as several things have been changed,” the sources claimed.
A forensics expert went to the District Headquarters Hospital and examined two human legs – a pair of sandals and two socks believed to be of the suicide bomber.
The forensic expert took tissue samples from the legs and some photographs.
A police official told the expert he believed that the same type of sandals had been found in two earlier suicide bombings.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
KARACHI: Sniffer dogs not used for VIP security: Oct 18 security lapse
By Imran Ayub
KARACHI, Jan 13: The law enforcement agencies responsible for the security of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s homecoming procession on Oct 18 did not use sniffer dogs in their attempt to keep suicide bombers at bay, it has emerged.
Facts gathered from senior police officers, Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) personnel and Pakistan Rangers suggest that the authorities only used conventional methods to comb Sharea Faisal ahead of the procession of the former premier, which had never been effective to eliminate suicide bomb threats, which were warned of by the federal and provincial home ministries on Ms Bhutto’s return.
“Actually the BDS squad was there on Sharea Faisal to give clearance before the procession passed that area,” said an official on condition of anonymity. “The Karsaz area was also cleared by the BDS but the suicide bombers might have been on the move to avoid the BDS checks.”
However, he agreed that the sniffer dogs could have been the best tool to detect moving explosives, and in the procession like Oct 18’s, they could have proved more effective.
But, he added, the police did not have a single such animal despite rising threats of suicide bombings.
“Neither did police seek Rangers’ services, which have some eight such trained dogs capable of detecting explosives of any kind and in any form,” said the official. “The clearance for the bomb or explosive threats was the sole responsibility of police’s BDS, which was not capable of clearing each and every person in the moving procession, but trained sniffer dogs could operate in situations like those.”
The official’s comments matched a statement given by a senior officer of the Special Branch that the department had no equipment to detect suicide bombers in the crowd.
Before a tribunal investigating the Oct 18 Karsaz blasts, SSP Security Shahab Mazhar Bhalli said the BDS teams were not equipped with special instruments to detect humans carrying explosives.
Since the suicide bombing is considered as one of the most dangerous and unpreventable methods used by the terrorists for their targets, experts believe the current BDS setup being run under the Special Branch does not have the capacity to detect moving explosives.
“In huge processions and gatherings, effectiveness of trained sniffer dogs cannot be matched with other devices,” said a Rangers official. “Currently, in Karachi we have eight such dogs, which we use to clear Thar Express trains, processions of different kinds, international cricket matches, and on requests of different government organizations.”
However, he said, Rangers were not asked for the job on Oct 18, as they were only assigned the job of airport security, which they managed very well.
“We also use the dogs for VIP security and during visits of foreign sport teams to Karachi for sporting events,” he further explained, and disclosed that the level of protocol offered to the former premier was much below the VIP security merited.
He said the dogs could not only spot a human being carrying explosives in the crowd, but also had the ability to detect such devices five feet under the ground.
In such a situation, the question arises why the facility of sniffer dogs had not been acquired by police despite the threats and growing incidents of terrorism, including suicide bombings.
The question remained unanswered as no relevant official of police’ Special Branch could be contacted to seek an explanation despite several attempts. However, sources maintained that the department had taken several such initiatives in the past, but the red tape scuttled them.
“Recently there was a proposal to acquire such a facility (trained sniffer dogs) and a team of senior police officers kept liaison with Rangers officials for some time in this regard, but it came to an end without achieving any results,” said a source close to the top police hierarchy.
KARACHI, Jan 13: The law enforcement agencies responsible for the security of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s homecoming procession on Oct 18 did not use sniffer dogs in their attempt to keep suicide bombers at bay, it has emerged.
Facts gathered from senior police officers, Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) personnel and Pakistan Rangers suggest that the authorities only used conventional methods to comb Sharea Faisal ahead of the procession of the former premier, which had never been effective to eliminate suicide bomb threats, which were warned of by the federal and provincial home ministries on Ms Bhutto’s return.
“Actually the BDS squad was there on Sharea Faisal to give clearance before the procession passed that area,” said an official on condition of anonymity. “The Karsaz area was also cleared by the BDS but the suicide bombers might have been on the move to avoid the BDS checks.”
However, he agreed that the sniffer dogs could have been the best tool to detect moving explosives, and in the procession like Oct 18’s, they could have proved more effective.
But, he added, the police did not have a single such animal despite rising threats of suicide bombings.
“Neither did police seek Rangers’ services, which have some eight such trained dogs capable of detecting explosives of any kind and in any form,” said the official. “The clearance for the bomb or explosive threats was the sole responsibility of police’s BDS, which was not capable of clearing each and every person in the moving procession, but trained sniffer dogs could operate in situations like those.”
The official’s comments matched a statement given by a senior officer of the Special Branch that the department had no equipment to detect suicide bombers in the crowd.
Before a tribunal investigating the Oct 18 Karsaz blasts, SSP Security Shahab Mazhar Bhalli said the BDS teams were not equipped with special instruments to detect humans carrying explosives.
Since the suicide bombing is considered as one of the most dangerous and unpreventable methods used by the terrorists for their targets, experts believe the current BDS setup being run under the Special Branch does not have the capacity to detect moving explosives.
“In huge processions and gatherings, effectiveness of trained sniffer dogs cannot be matched with other devices,” said a Rangers official. “Currently, in Karachi we have eight such dogs, which we use to clear Thar Express trains, processions of different kinds, international cricket matches, and on requests of different government organizations.”
However, he said, Rangers were not asked for the job on Oct 18, as they were only assigned the job of airport security, which they managed very well.
“We also use the dogs for VIP security and during visits of foreign sport teams to Karachi for sporting events,” he further explained, and disclosed that the level of protocol offered to the former premier was much below the VIP security merited.
He said the dogs could not only spot a human being carrying explosives in the crowd, but also had the ability to detect such devices five feet under the ground.
In such a situation, the question arises why the facility of sniffer dogs had not been acquired by police despite the threats and growing incidents of terrorism, including suicide bombings.
The question remained unanswered as no relevant official of police’ Special Branch could be contacted to seek an explanation despite several attempts. However, sources maintained that the department had taken several such initiatives in the past, but the red tape scuttled them.
“Recently there was a proposal to acquire such a facility (trained sniffer dogs) and a team of senior police officers kept liaison with Rangers officials for some time in this regard, but it came to an end without achieving any results,” said a source close to the top police hierarchy.
Al Qaeda assassinated Benazir: report
By Our Special Correspondent
LONDON, Jan 13: Evidence amassed by Scotland Yard detectives points towards Al Qaeda militants being responsible for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Sunday Times said quoting British officials.
But the ST report also quoted Scotland Yard insisting that its task was not to establish who killed her but only how she died.
“Even that is not straightforward. They cannot examine the body, and the crime scene and Bhutto’s vehicle were both scrubbed within hours,” said the author of the report Christina Lamb.
Ms Lamb recalled that Musharraf’s interior ministry had released a transcript of a purported telephone conversation between Mehsud and a militant cleric in which, though Bhutto’s name was not mentioned, he appeared to congratulate him on the death, saying: “Fantastic job. Very brave boys, the ones who killed her.”
“The transcript was met with scepticism. Critics pointed out Mehsud had previously been working with the Pakistan military, receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars and that if the country’s intelligence services could tape his conversations, they should be able to capture him,” said the ST report.
However, according to the same report, British and American officials, who have examined the transcript, say they believe it is genuine and share Musharraf’s view that Mehsud is behind most of the suicide bombings in Pakistan.
LONDON, Jan 13: Evidence amassed by Scotland Yard detectives points towards Al Qaeda militants being responsible for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Sunday Times said quoting British officials.
But the ST report also quoted Scotland Yard insisting that its task was not to establish who killed her but only how she died.
“Even that is not straightforward. They cannot examine the body, and the crime scene and Bhutto’s vehicle were both scrubbed within hours,” said the author of the report Christina Lamb.
Ms Lamb recalled that Musharraf’s interior ministry had released a transcript of a purported telephone conversation between Mehsud and a militant cleric in which, though Bhutto’s name was not mentioned, he appeared to congratulate him on the death, saying: “Fantastic job. Very brave boys, the ones who killed her.”
“The transcript was met with scepticism. Critics pointed out Mehsud had previously been working with the Pakistan military, receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars and that if the country’s intelligence services could tape his conversations, they should be able to capture him,” said the ST report.
However, according to the same report, British and American officials, who have examined the transcript, say they believe it is genuine and share Musharraf’s view that Mehsud is behind most of the suicide bombings in Pakistan.
President suggests exhumation
By Our Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan 13: President Pervez Musharraf has said that the body of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto should be exhumed to settle the dispute once and for all whether she was killed by a bullet or not.
“Yes, exhume it. A hundred percent. I would like it to be exhumed,” he said. “Because I know for sure there is no bullet wound other than on the right side. Whether it was a bullet or a strike, I don’t want to comment, I don’t know.”
In an interview with Newsweek published on the Internet on Sunday, Mr Musharraf said he was aware of the accusation that the government was complicit in her assassination and wanted a post-mortem to prove that all such allegations were wrong.
When asked whether he thought BB’s wounds had been caused by bullets, the president said: “I am a soldier. I’ve seen a lot of bullet wounds. A bullet wound is a small hole, and if the bullet goes through it makes a big hole on the other side. Now that is what I understand to be a bullet wound. This was not that, although I’m not an expert.”
Mr Musharraf said those blaming the government were not interested in knowing the facts. “How does it absolve the government if it was a bullet or not?” he asked. “If you or anyone else were to accuse the government, the issue of the bullet [versus] explosives is not significant. The media and everyone are involved in an issue that is not very pertinent. Why would we be hiding [the cause of death]? It’s ridiculous, and when I read these comments, I laugh at them.”
But he ruled out ordering a post-mortem without the consent of the Bhutto family. Asked why he should not use his executive power to order one, he said: “Everything is not black and white here. It would have very big political ramifications. If I just ordered the body exhumed, that would be careless, unless (Ms Bhutto’s) people agreed. But they will not.”
Asked if Ms Bhutto’s husband was playing a political game, Mr Musharraf said everybody was trying to gain political advantage from the assassination. “The entire opposition is trying to take political advantage,” he said. “I know what [Bhutto’s opponents] used to say about her, but all of a sudden ... it makes me laugh, actually.”
WASHINGTON, Jan 13: President Pervez Musharraf has said that the body of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto should be exhumed to settle the dispute once and for all whether she was killed by a bullet or not.
“Yes, exhume it. A hundred percent. I would like it to be exhumed,” he said. “Because I know for sure there is no bullet wound other than on the right side. Whether it was a bullet or a strike, I don’t want to comment, I don’t know.”
In an interview with Newsweek published on the Internet on Sunday, Mr Musharraf said he was aware of the accusation that the government was complicit in her assassination and wanted a post-mortem to prove that all such allegations were wrong.
When asked whether he thought BB’s wounds had been caused by bullets, the president said: “I am a soldier. I’ve seen a lot of bullet wounds. A bullet wound is a small hole, and if the bullet goes through it makes a big hole on the other side. Now that is what I understand to be a bullet wound. This was not that, although I’m not an expert.”
Mr Musharraf said those blaming the government were not interested in knowing the facts. “How does it absolve the government if it was a bullet or not?” he asked. “If you or anyone else were to accuse the government, the issue of the bullet [versus] explosives is not significant. The media and everyone are involved in an issue that is not very pertinent. Why would we be hiding [the cause of death]? It’s ridiculous, and when I read these comments, I laugh at them.”
But he ruled out ordering a post-mortem without the consent of the Bhutto family. Asked why he should not use his executive power to order one, he said: “Everything is not black and white here. It would have very big political ramifications. If I just ordered the body exhumed, that would be careless, unless (Ms Bhutto’s) people agreed. But they will not.”
Asked if Ms Bhutto’s husband was playing a political game, Mr Musharraf said everybody was trying to gain political advantage from the assassination. “The entire opposition is trying to take political advantage,” he said. “I know what [Bhutto’s opponents] used to say about her, but all of a sudden ... it makes me laugh, actually.”
PPP to approach United Nations for investigation
By M.B. Kalhoro
LARKANA, Jan 12: The Pakistan People’s Party will on its own send a request to the UN for setting up a commission to probe Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.
Sources told Dawn here on Saturday that a 48-hour ultimatum given to the government by the PPP for submitting the request had expired. The party said it had not received any reply from the government.
The party sources said President Pervez Musharraf, in an interview to a French newspaper, had clearly said the government would not request the UN for a commission.
Asked why had the party not made a request to the president, as its letter was addressed to the caretaker prime minister, the source said “even from him no reply came”.
The PPP also plans to send delegations to a number of countries to urge them to pressure the government to allow a UN-led investigation.
LARKANA, Jan 12: The Pakistan People’s Party will on its own send a request to the UN for setting up a commission to probe Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.
Sources told Dawn here on Saturday that a 48-hour ultimatum given to the government by the PPP for submitting the request had expired. The party said it had not received any reply from the government.
The party sources said President Pervez Musharraf, in an interview to a French newspaper, had clearly said the government would not request the UN for a commission.
Asked why had the party not made a request to the president, as its letter was addressed to the caretaker prime minister, the source said “even from him no reply came”.
The PPP also plans to send delegations to a number of countries to urge them to pressure the government to allow a UN-led investigation.
Musharraf rules out UN probe into Benazir murder
ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: President Pervez Musharraf ruled out a United Nations probe into the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in an interview with a French newspaper published on Saturday.
Musharraf told Le Figaro that UN involvement was out of the question, and that the investigation into Benazir Bhutto's murder would be handled internally with the help of British police from Scotland Yard.
Ms Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari, and her son, Bilawal, have both called for a UN inquiry, along the lines of the world body's probe into the killing of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri.
“This is not possible. Another country is involved? Pakistan is not Lebanon,” Musharraf said in a transcript released by the government, referring to the implication of Syrian officials in the Hariri killing.
“It's a simple murder. We have our own institutions and we can count on the help of Scotland Yard. I hope that the investigation report will be made public before the elections,” he added.
Bilawal said last week that the family and the Pakistan People's Party wanted a “UN-sponsored investigation, because we do not believe that an investigation under the authority of the Pakistan government has the necessary transparency.”
Musharraf insisted the elections would go ahead and, while acknowledging an Al Qaeda campaign to destabilise Pakistan, denied the country was “on the verge of disintegration.” “They (the elections) will be held whatever happens. We have to defeat (the) terrorists' campaign aimed at derailing the democratic and economic process,” he said.
Musharraf, meanwhile, said he would quit if he really believed that he no longer had the support of most Pakistanis, but that reports of his unpopularity were untrue.
“I know very well what is the support that I have from the masses, the elite and the army. The day I think that I am genuinely unpopular, I will be the first to resign,” he told Le Figaro.
Meanwhile, a president's spokesman said on Saturday that there was no point in demanding a UN probe into the death of Benazir Bhutto as the case did not fit into the standards for such investigation.
“Such a probe is more appropriate in cases where two or more countries are involved,” Maj-Gen (Retd) Rashid Qureshi, president's spokesman, said in response to a demand by the Pakistan People's Party for a United Nations probe into the Dec 27 assassination of Ms Bhutto in Rawalpindi.
Qureshi told a private channel that the PPP's demand of a Hariri style investigation did not fit in the circumstances of the Liaquat Bagh incident.
The spokesman said the president had already invited the team of British investigators into Pakistan to provide necessary technical and forensic assistance to the local investigators.
He said the United Nations too will have to seek assistance from different countries to help in the probe and Pakistan has already acquired the assistance of British investigators.
He said the British team was mandated to conduct a thorough investigation to determine all aspects of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.—AFP/APP
Musharraf told Le Figaro that UN involvement was out of the question, and that the investigation into Benazir Bhutto's murder would be handled internally with the help of British police from Scotland Yard.
Ms Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari, and her son, Bilawal, have both called for a UN inquiry, along the lines of the world body's probe into the killing of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri.
“This is not possible. Another country is involved? Pakistan is not Lebanon,” Musharraf said in a transcript released by the government, referring to the implication of Syrian officials in the Hariri killing.
“It's a simple murder. We have our own institutions and we can count on the help of Scotland Yard. I hope that the investigation report will be made public before the elections,” he added.
Bilawal said last week that the family and the Pakistan People's Party wanted a “UN-sponsored investigation, because we do not believe that an investigation under the authority of the Pakistan government has the necessary transparency.”
Musharraf insisted the elections would go ahead and, while acknowledging an Al Qaeda campaign to destabilise Pakistan, denied the country was “on the verge of disintegration.” “They (the elections) will be held whatever happens. We have to defeat (the) terrorists' campaign aimed at derailing the democratic and economic process,” he said.
Musharraf, meanwhile, said he would quit if he really believed that he no longer had the support of most Pakistanis, but that reports of his unpopularity were untrue.
“I know very well what is the support that I have from the masses, the elite and the army. The day I think that I am genuinely unpopular, I will be the first to resign,” he told Le Figaro.
Meanwhile, a president's spokesman said on Saturday that there was no point in demanding a UN probe into the death of Benazir Bhutto as the case did not fit into the standards for such investigation.
“Such a probe is more appropriate in cases where two or more countries are involved,” Maj-Gen (Retd) Rashid Qureshi, president's spokesman, said in response to a demand by the Pakistan People's Party for a United Nations probe into the Dec 27 assassination of Ms Bhutto in Rawalpindi.
Qureshi told a private channel that the PPP's demand of a Hariri style investigation did not fit in the circumstances of the Liaquat Bagh incident.
The spokesman said the president had already invited the team of British investigators into Pakistan to provide necessary technical and forensic assistance to the local investigators.
He said the United Nations too will have to seek assistance from different countries to help in the probe and Pakistan has already acquired the assistance of British investigators.
He said the British team was mandated to conduct a thorough investigation to determine all aspects of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.—AFP/APP
Friday, January 11, 2008
Assassination probe: PPP warns of inviting UN
By Our Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Jan 11: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Friday threatened to lodge a formal complaint with the United Nations regarding the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto if the government failed to send a formal request to the world body for investigating into the death of the slain PPP leader.
Speaking at a news conference, PPP central secretary finance Senator Babar Awan said the party believed that Chapter 6 of the UN Charter allowed individuals to directly contact the UN for investigating the crimes like the assassination of Ms Bhutto on its own if the government refused to use the option of sending a formal request to the world’s highest international body.
He said the party had the right to register with the UN what he called an FIR on the basis of the e-mail sent by Benazir Bhutto to Mark Siegel. “We are left with no other option but to register the FIR with the UN as the government is not showing any seriousness in unveiling the murderers of Benazir Bhutto,” Mr Awan maintained. He said PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari had constituted delegations that would leave for foreign countries to convince them of putting pressure on the Pakistan government to conduct the investigations into assassination of Ms Bhutto under the auspices of the UN.
A two-member delegation comprising Babar Awan and Begum Shehnaz Wazir Ali will approach the European Union countries. Similarly, PPP central secretary information Sherry Rehman and Senator Javed Leghari will leave for the US and Senator Farooque A. Naik will contact the UN in this regard.
Accusing the government of resorting to delaying tactics, Senator Awan said the authorities were bound under Article 173 to present challan of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in a court of law within 14 days, but even after 16 days of the murder no challan had been submitted.
“These deliberate delaying tactics on the part of government in presenting the challan is a clear indication that the regime is not serious in probing the murder of Ms Bhutto”, he said, adding that in the last 16 days, the government had not shown any progress in the investigations to the nation.
ISLAMABAD, Jan 11: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Friday threatened to lodge a formal complaint with the United Nations regarding the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto if the government failed to send a formal request to the world body for investigating into the death of the slain PPP leader.
Speaking at a news conference, PPP central secretary finance Senator Babar Awan said the party believed that Chapter 6 of the UN Charter allowed individuals to directly contact the UN for investigating the crimes like the assassination of Ms Bhutto on its own if the government refused to use the option of sending a formal request to the world’s highest international body.
He said the party had the right to register with the UN what he called an FIR on the basis of the e-mail sent by Benazir Bhutto to Mark Siegel. “We are left with no other option but to register the FIR with the UN as the government is not showing any seriousness in unveiling the murderers of Benazir Bhutto,” Mr Awan maintained. He said PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari had constituted delegations that would leave for foreign countries to convince them of putting pressure on the Pakistan government to conduct the investigations into assassination of Ms Bhutto under the auspices of the UN.
A two-member delegation comprising Babar Awan and Begum Shehnaz Wazir Ali will approach the European Union countries. Similarly, PPP central secretary information Sherry Rehman and Senator Javed Leghari will leave for the US and Senator Farooque A. Naik will contact the UN in this regard.
Accusing the government of resorting to delaying tactics, Senator Awan said the authorities were bound under Article 173 to present challan of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in a court of law within 14 days, but even after 16 days of the murder no challan had been submitted.
“These deliberate delaying tactics on the part of government in presenting the challan is a clear indication that the regime is not serious in probing the murder of Ms Bhutto”, he said, adding that in the last 16 days, the government had not shown any progress in the investigations to the nation.
Scotland Yard mandated to determine cause of death
By Baqir Sajjad Syed
ISLAMABAD, Jan 11: The Scotland Yard team assisting local investigators in the probe into the assassination of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto is mandated to determine the precise cause of her death, according to the terms of reference for the team released by the British High Commission on Friday.
The high commission said that the local authorities remained the principal investigators.
It made the terms of reference public after UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s commitment in the House of Commons regarding publication of the terms of reference. According to the text of the agreement between the Pakistani authorities and the British Metropolitan Police Service, “the principal purpose of the deployment is to assist the local authorities in providing clarity regarding the precise cause of Ms Bhutto’s death”.
The five-member Scotland Yard team comprising experts in crime investigation, forensics and evidence analysis had arrived last week Friday following a request by President Musharraf to assist in the investigation of the cause of the PPP leader’s death. The team was augmented by three more experts a week later.
The cause of Ms Bhutto’s death has become suspicious after doctors at the Rawalpindi General Hospital issued an inconclusive medical report and her husband Asif Ali Zardari refused to allow her autopsy. Some forensic evidences were also lost in the post-incident handling by civic agencies.
The task remains challenging in the absence of a comprehensive medical report and autopsy.
Explaining the mode of working of the team as per the agreement with the Pakistani authorities, the British High Commission said: “The team will provide forensic expertise and other investigative assistance as appears appropriate to senior officer detective superintendent Mr MacBrayne, who will lead the Metropolitan Police Service team. The
MPS officers will assist and report to the Pakistani investigators.”
The statement said that the primacy and responsibility for the investigations remained with the Pakistani authorities.
ISLAMABAD, Jan 11: The Scotland Yard team assisting local investigators in the probe into the assassination of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto is mandated to determine the precise cause of her death, according to the terms of reference for the team released by the British High Commission on Friday.
The high commission said that the local authorities remained the principal investigators.
It made the terms of reference public after UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s commitment in the House of Commons regarding publication of the terms of reference. According to the text of the agreement between the Pakistani authorities and the British Metropolitan Police Service, “the principal purpose of the deployment is to assist the local authorities in providing clarity regarding the precise cause of Ms Bhutto’s death”.
The five-member Scotland Yard team comprising experts in crime investigation, forensics and evidence analysis had arrived last week Friday following a request by President Musharraf to assist in the investigation of the cause of the PPP leader’s death. The team was augmented by three more experts a week later.
The cause of Ms Bhutto’s death has become suspicious after doctors at the Rawalpindi General Hospital issued an inconclusive medical report and her husband Asif Ali Zardari refused to allow her autopsy. Some forensic evidences were also lost in the post-incident handling by civic agencies.
The task remains challenging in the absence of a comprehensive medical report and autopsy.
Explaining the mode of working of the team as per the agreement with the Pakistani authorities, the British High Commission said: “The team will provide forensic expertise and other investigative assistance as appears appropriate to senior officer detective superintendent Mr MacBrayne, who will lead the Metropolitan Police Service team. The
MPS officers will assist and report to the Pakistani investigators.”
The statement said that the primacy and responsibility for the investigations remained with the Pakistani authorities.
Benazir’s ‘will’ be made part of probe: Pervaiz
By Our Correspondent
OKARA, Jan 10: Former chief minister Pervaiz Elahi has said that the ‘will’ allegedly dictated by Benazir Bhutto be made the part of investigations conducted by the Scotland Yard team keeping in view the main beneficiary of her murder.
The PML-Q Punjab chief said this while addressing a workers’ convention at the farmhouse of PML-Q’s NA-146 candidate Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan in Deepalpur on Thursday. Candidates Syed Afzal Ali Shah (NA-147), Syed Raza Ali Gillani (PP-187) and Malik Nazar Farid Khokhar (PP-192) were also among participants.
Mr Elahi said that the signature of the late Benazir Bhutto should be got verified because she had declared some three years back that her husband had nothing to do with the PPP.
He said the late PPP chairperson had therefore not awarded the party ticket to Asif Ali Zardari.
“I am sure that the major beneficiary of Ms Bhutto’s murder is Mr Zardari who wants to take hold of the PPP”, he said.
The former chief minister said now Nawaz Sharif should adopt the name of `Nawaz Bhutto Zardari Sharif’ for being the Punjab franchiser of the Zardari company.
Although the Shah Muqeem group chief Syed Afzal Ali Shah and his son Syed Raza Ali Gillani, the former provincial minister, in their addresses severely criticized their opponent and former chief minister Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, Pervaiz Elahi did not even gestures towards him.
The local administration had taken strict security measures as no one was allowed entry without undergoing a thorough search following the suicide blast in Lahore. Sniffer dogs were also assisting the security personnel.
DPO Mirza Faran Baig, DCO Aslam Kamboh and EDO (Revenue) Ghulam Nabi Krori were present there along with a heavy police contingent.
OKARA, Jan 10: Former chief minister Pervaiz Elahi has said that the ‘will’ allegedly dictated by Benazir Bhutto be made the part of investigations conducted by the Scotland Yard team keeping in view the main beneficiary of her murder.
The PML-Q Punjab chief said this while addressing a workers’ convention at the farmhouse of PML-Q’s NA-146 candidate Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan in Deepalpur on Thursday. Candidates Syed Afzal Ali Shah (NA-147), Syed Raza Ali Gillani (PP-187) and Malik Nazar Farid Khokhar (PP-192) were also among participants.
Mr Elahi said that the signature of the late Benazir Bhutto should be got verified because she had declared some three years back that her husband had nothing to do with the PPP.
He said the late PPP chairperson had therefore not awarded the party ticket to Asif Ali Zardari.
“I am sure that the major beneficiary of Ms Bhutto’s murder is Mr Zardari who wants to take hold of the PPP”, he said.
The former chief minister said now Nawaz Sharif should adopt the name of `Nawaz Bhutto Zardari Sharif’ for being the Punjab franchiser of the Zardari company.
Although the Shah Muqeem group chief Syed Afzal Ali Shah and his son Syed Raza Ali Gillani, the former provincial minister, in their addresses severely criticized their opponent and former chief minister Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, Pervaiz Elahi did not even gestures towards him.
The local administration had taken strict security measures as no one was allowed entry without undergoing a thorough search following the suicide blast in Lahore. Sniffer dogs were also assisting the security personnel.
DPO Mirza Faran Baig, DCO Aslam Kamboh and EDO (Revenue) Ghulam Nabi Krori were present there along with a heavy police contingent.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
US Electoral System
Powers:
The United States is a republic, which means that the people hold the power and they elect representatives to decide what to do with it.
It is also a federal country, meaning that powers are divided between central government and those in the individual states.
Although these powers have changed over time, the US constitution originally only gave certain powers to the federal government. Many government services are still the responsibility of state governments.
Each state elects a governor and politicians to sit in the Senate and House of Representatives - the two chambers of the legislature.
Federal power is divided into three separate branches of government - the president and his cabinet (the Executive), the two chambers of the US Congress (the Legislature) and the courts (Judiciary).
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Elections:
The United States holds elections every two years. Once every four years there is a presidential election, with congressional elections held at the same time.
Mid-term elections take place in-between presidential elections, in the middle of the presidential term.
Elections for the House of Representatives are held every two years. Senators have six-year terms, with one-third elected every two years.
State governors serve four-year terms with about half up for election every two years.
Primaries:
Voters also get to choose their party's candidate in the main election. Voters register which party they support, and can then participate in primary elections.
Before he became the Republican candidate for president in 2000, George W Bush had to beat Republican Senator John McCain in primary elections.
Primaries are sometimes quite close to the general election, and once they are over, candidates must turn quickly to the general election.
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Constitution:
America declared its independence from Britain in 1776.
The Declaration of Independence read: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Eleven years later, the separate states joined together to form the United States. At Philadelphia in 1787, a convention attended by the most important men of the day produced a constitution.
Unlike the UK, the US has a written constitution. It has four important principles: republicanism, federalism, the 'separation of powers', and 'checks and balances'.
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President:
The president's main function is to enforce the law, by running the federal government. He also proposes laws and the annual budget to Congress, is commander-in-chief of the US armed forces, and is broadly responsible for foreign policy.
He can also veto bills passed in the Congress, although that veto can be overridden if two-thirds of the Congress vote against it.
The president is elected every four years, but cannot serve more than two terms.
His cabinet members are not elected and are not normally members of Congress. They have to leave Congress to join the cabinet.
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Congress:
The Congress is responsible for passing laws and the budget. It has two chambers - the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The two chambers share the power to declare war, while the Senate must approve treaties agreed to by the president. Senators must also approve the appointment of judges and many government officials.
Every state has two senators, but the number of members of the House depends on the population.
For example, a state like Wyoming with a small population has two senators and just one member of the House, while a state like California with a huge population still has two senators, but 43 members of the House.
In total there are 100 Senators and 435 members of the House of Representatives.
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Judiciary:
The third part of government is the courts system - known as the Judiciary. The Supreme Court has nine judges who decide whether laws passed are in line with the constitution.
The judges are nominated by the president, and have to be approved by the Senate. They are extremely powerful positions. The judges are appointed for life, so a vacancy can only arise through the death, resignation, retirement, or impeachment of a sitting judge.
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Two-party system:
The US has a two-party system, which makes it very hard for anyone who is not a Democrat or a Republican to be elected. Almost everyone in Congress is a Democrat or Republican.
Ballot candidates
Voters are required to vote on a ballot where they select the candidate of their choice. The presidential ballot is actually voting "for the electors of a candidate" meaning that the voter is not actually voting for the candidate, but endorsing members of the Electoral College who will, in turn, directly elect the President.
Many voting ballots allow a voter to "blanket vote" for all candidates in a particular political party or to select individual candidates on a line by line voting system. Which candidates appear on the voting ticket is determined through a legal process known as ballot access. Usually, the size of the candidate's political party and the results of the major nomination conventions determine who is pre-listed on the presidential ballot. Thus, the presidential election ticket will not list every single candidate running for President, but only those who have secured a major party nomination or whose size of their political party warrants having been formally listed. Laws are in effect to have other candidates pre-listed on a ticket, provided that a sufficient number of voters have endorsed the candidate, usually through a signature list. Never, however, in U.S. history has a 3rd party candidate for president secured a place on the election ticket in this fashion.[citation needed]
The final way to be elected for president is to have one's name written in at the time of election as a write-in candidate. This is used for candidates who did not fulfill the legal requirements to be pre-listed on the voting ticket. It is also used by voters to express a distaste for the listed candidates, by writing in a ridiculous candidate for president such as Mickey Mouse or Darth Vader. In any event, a write-in candidate has never won an election for President of the United States.
What is the Electoral College?
Voters in each state choose among slates of electors pledged to one candidate or another. These electors - collectively called the Electoral College - in turn cast their votes to pick the president.
Each state receives the number of electoral votes equal to the number of its members of the House of Representatives, which depends on the state's population, and the number of its senators, which is always two.
So, for example, Florida has 25 electoral votes, because it has 23 members of the House and two senators. California has the most electoral votes, with 54. No state gets any fewer than three electoral votes. The District of Columbia also has three electoral votes.
In 48 states, and in the District of Columbia, it is a winner-take-all system: The winner of the popular vote in a given state receives all of that state's electoral votes.
Let's take, for example, the state of Texas (with 32 electoral votes). This election, Bush won 66% of the total vote, Gore won 33% of the total vote. Because of this winner-take-all system, the "score" is not 66 to 33 (Bush over Gore) but 32 to 0 - Bush takes all. In essence, votes for Gore go uncounted.
In New York (33 electoral votes), Gore won 60% of the vote, Bush 35%. Likewise here, the score is not 60 to 35, but 33 to 0 - Gore takes all. In this case, Bush's votes go uncounted.
The United States is a republic, which means that the people hold the power and they elect representatives to decide what to do with it.
It is also a federal country, meaning that powers are divided between central government and those in the individual states.
Although these powers have changed over time, the US constitution originally only gave certain powers to the federal government. Many government services are still the responsibility of state governments.
Each state elects a governor and politicians to sit in the Senate and House of Representatives - the two chambers of the legislature.
Federal power is divided into three separate branches of government - the president and his cabinet (the Executive), the two chambers of the US Congress (the Legislature) and the courts (Judiciary).
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Elections:
The United States holds elections every two years. Once every four years there is a presidential election, with congressional elections held at the same time.
Mid-term elections take place in-between presidential elections, in the middle of the presidential term.
Elections for the House of Representatives are held every two years. Senators have six-year terms, with one-third elected every two years.
State governors serve four-year terms with about half up for election every two years.
Primaries:
Voters also get to choose their party's candidate in the main election. Voters register which party they support, and can then participate in primary elections.
Before he became the Republican candidate for president in 2000, George W Bush had to beat Republican Senator John McCain in primary elections.
Primaries are sometimes quite close to the general election, and once they are over, candidates must turn quickly to the general election.
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Constitution:
America declared its independence from Britain in 1776.
The Declaration of Independence read: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Eleven years later, the separate states joined together to form the United States. At Philadelphia in 1787, a convention attended by the most important men of the day produced a constitution.
Unlike the UK, the US has a written constitution. It has four important principles: republicanism, federalism, the 'separation of powers', and 'checks and balances'.
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President:
The president's main function is to enforce the law, by running the federal government. He also proposes laws and the annual budget to Congress, is commander-in-chief of the US armed forces, and is broadly responsible for foreign policy.
He can also veto bills passed in the Congress, although that veto can be overridden if two-thirds of the Congress vote against it.
The president is elected every four years, but cannot serve more than two terms.
His cabinet members are not elected and are not normally members of Congress. They have to leave Congress to join the cabinet.
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Congress:
The Congress is responsible for passing laws and the budget. It has two chambers - the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The two chambers share the power to declare war, while the Senate must approve treaties agreed to by the president. Senators must also approve the appointment of judges and many government officials.
Every state has two senators, but the number of members of the House depends on the population.
For example, a state like Wyoming with a small population has two senators and just one member of the House, while a state like California with a huge population still has two senators, but 43 members of the House.
In total there are 100 Senators and 435 members of the House of Representatives.
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Judiciary:
The third part of government is the courts system - known as the Judiciary. The Supreme Court has nine judges who decide whether laws passed are in line with the constitution.
The judges are nominated by the president, and have to be approved by the Senate. They are extremely powerful positions. The judges are appointed for life, so a vacancy can only arise through the death, resignation, retirement, or impeachment of a sitting judge.
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Two-party system:
The US has a two-party system, which makes it very hard for anyone who is not a Democrat or a Republican to be elected. Almost everyone in Congress is a Democrat or Republican.
Ballot candidates
Voters are required to vote on a ballot where they select the candidate of their choice. The presidential ballot is actually voting "for the electors of a candidate" meaning that the voter is not actually voting for the candidate, but endorsing members of the Electoral College who will, in turn, directly elect the President.
Many voting ballots allow a voter to "blanket vote" for all candidates in a particular political party or to select individual candidates on a line by line voting system. Which candidates appear on the voting ticket is determined through a legal process known as ballot access. Usually, the size of the candidate's political party and the results of the major nomination conventions determine who is pre-listed on the presidential ballot. Thus, the presidential election ticket will not list every single candidate running for President, but only those who have secured a major party nomination or whose size of their political party warrants having been formally listed. Laws are in effect to have other candidates pre-listed on a ticket, provided that a sufficient number of voters have endorsed the candidate, usually through a signature list. Never, however, in U.S. history has a 3rd party candidate for president secured a place on the election ticket in this fashion.[citation needed]
The final way to be elected for president is to have one's name written in at the time of election as a write-in candidate. This is used for candidates who did not fulfill the legal requirements to be pre-listed on the voting ticket. It is also used by voters to express a distaste for the listed candidates, by writing in a ridiculous candidate for president such as Mickey Mouse or Darth Vader. In any event, a write-in candidate has never won an election for President of the United States.
What is the Electoral College?
Voters in each state choose among slates of electors pledged to one candidate or another. These electors - collectively called the Electoral College - in turn cast their votes to pick the president.
Each state receives the number of electoral votes equal to the number of its members of the House of Representatives, which depends on the state's population, and the number of its senators, which is always two.
So, for example, Florida has 25 electoral votes, because it has 23 members of the House and two senators. California has the most electoral votes, with 54. No state gets any fewer than three electoral votes. The District of Columbia also has three electoral votes.
In 48 states, and in the District of Columbia, it is a winner-take-all system: The winner of the popular vote in a given state receives all of that state's electoral votes.
Let's take, for example, the state of Texas (with 32 electoral votes). This election, Bush won 66% of the total vote, Gore won 33% of the total vote. Because of this winner-take-all system, the "score" is not 66 to 33 (Bush over Gore) but 32 to 0 - Bush takes all. In essence, votes for Gore go uncounted.
In New York (33 electoral votes), Gore won 60% of the vote, Bush 35%. Likewise here, the score is not 60 to 35, but 33 to 0 - Gore takes all. In this case, Bush's votes go uncounted.
Kerry to endorse Obama
Posted: 09:49 AM ET
Kerry will endorse Obama's presidential bid, sources tell CNN
(CNN) – Former 2004 presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry will endorse Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination, two sources told CNN Thursday.
The announcement will come at 2 p.m. in Charleston, S.C., the sources said.
"(Kerry) remains one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party and (has) an e-mail list with millions of addresses," an Obama source said.
Kerry ran in 2004 on the Democratic ticket with former Sen. John Edwards, who is running this year for party's presidential nomination.
An Obama source suggested Kerry's endorsement is a big boost because "he (Kerry) remains one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party and (has) an e-mail list with millions of addresses."
Kerry will endorse Obama's presidential bid, sources tell CNN
(CNN) – Former 2004 presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry will endorse Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination, two sources told CNN Thursday.
The announcement will come at 2 p.m. in Charleston, S.C., the sources said.
"(Kerry) remains one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party and (has) an e-mail list with millions of addresses," an Obama source said.
Kerry ran in 2004 on the Democratic ticket with former Sen. John Edwards, who is running this year for party's presidential nomination.
An Obama source suggested Kerry's endorsement is a big boost because "he (Kerry) remains one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party and (has) an e-mail list with millions of addresses."
Three more British detectives arrive
By Mohammad Asghar and Faisal Ali
RAWALPINDI/LAHORE, Jan 9: Another three British detectives arrived here from London on Wednesday. One of them is said to be an expert on the type of explosives used in the gun and bomb attack on PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto on Dec 27.
Five British forensic experts are already helping Pakistan in investigating the Rawalpindi carnage.
The team has collected forensic evidence, reconstructed the crime scene, and recorded statements from witnesses and the medical team that tried to revive Ms Bhutto after the attack.
“There is no breakthrough yet. We are examining the evidence closely with all technical help and expertise from Scotland Yard,” a senior Pakistani investigator said.
On Wednesday, members of the team arrived in Lahore and were received at the airport by government officials. The purpose of the team’s visit to Lahore is to visit the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory, Lahore, to examine the weapons used in the attack.
The British team will be briefed by local forensic experts on their findings.
Members of the team will also meet ballistic specialists for their opinion about weapons and empty bullet shells.
The weapons and empty bullet shells used in the attack on Ms Bhutto were sent by the Rawalpindi police to the forensic laboratory in Lahore. The lab is the only one in the country fully equipped to examine weapons and explosives.
The team met Punjab Inspector-General of Police Ahmad Nasim and discussed with him matters relating to the investigation.
They will return to Rawalpindi on Thursday where they will be briefed by officials of the Punjab government about the incident. Additional IGP of Punjab, along with four officials, would brief the team on behalf of the provincial government, sources said.
Meanwhile, the British investigators have established an office at the police guest-house situated on the Police Lines in Rawalpindi.
RAWALPINDI/LAHORE, Jan 9: Another three British detectives arrived here from London on Wednesday. One of them is said to be an expert on the type of explosives used in the gun and bomb attack on PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto on Dec 27.
Five British forensic experts are already helping Pakistan in investigating the Rawalpindi carnage.
The team has collected forensic evidence, reconstructed the crime scene, and recorded statements from witnesses and the medical team that tried to revive Ms Bhutto after the attack.
“There is no breakthrough yet. We are examining the evidence closely with all technical help and expertise from Scotland Yard,” a senior Pakistani investigator said.
On Wednesday, members of the team arrived in Lahore and were received at the airport by government officials. The purpose of the team’s visit to Lahore is to visit the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory, Lahore, to examine the weapons used in the attack.
The British team will be briefed by local forensic experts on their findings.
Members of the team will also meet ballistic specialists for their opinion about weapons and empty bullet shells.
The weapons and empty bullet shells used in the attack on Ms Bhutto were sent by the Rawalpindi police to the forensic laboratory in Lahore. The lab is the only one in the country fully equipped to examine weapons and explosives.
The team met Punjab Inspector-General of Police Ahmad Nasim and discussed with him matters relating to the investigation.
They will return to Rawalpindi on Thursday where they will be briefed by officials of the Punjab government about the incident. Additional IGP of Punjab, along with four officials, would brief the team on behalf of the provincial government, sources said.
Meanwhile, the British investigators have established an office at the police guest-house situated on the Police Lines in Rawalpindi.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
KARACHI: Bridge collapse report ready
KARACHI: Bridge collapse report ready
KARACHI, Jan 8: Federal (caretaker) Minister for Communication Barrister Habibur Rehman has said that the inquiry report pertaining to the collapse of the Shershah bridge, a part of the Northern Bypass, is ready and will be made public within 10 days.
Talking to journalists at the National Highway Authority (NHA) office here on Tuesday, he said that interrogation with all those concerned had been completed and the report was now ready. He, however, declined to share contents of the report with the journalists.
The bridge had collapsed in mid-2007 just one month after its inauguration by President Pervez Musharraf.
Mr Rehman, addressing a press conference, also expressed his views on the losses caused to public and private properties during the spate of violence that followed the Dec 27 assassination of former prime minister Ms Benazir Bhutto. He said that the next elected government would face a huge economic challenge due to the colossal damage incurred on account of the rioting.
“The fruits of the eight-year economic development have been damaged,” he remarked. The burden will ultimately trickle down to the taxpayers,” he added.—PPI
KARACHI, Jan 8: Federal (caretaker) Minister for Communication Barrister Habibur Rehman has said that the inquiry report pertaining to the collapse of the Shershah bridge, a part of the Northern Bypass, is ready and will be made public within 10 days.
Talking to journalists at the National Highway Authority (NHA) office here on Tuesday, he said that interrogation with all those concerned had been completed and the report was now ready. He, however, declined to share contents of the report with the journalists.
The bridge had collapsed in mid-2007 just one month after its inauguration by President Pervez Musharraf.
Mr Rehman, addressing a press conference, also expressed his views on the losses caused to public and private properties during the spate of violence that followed the Dec 27 assassination of former prime minister Ms Benazir Bhutto. He said that the next elected government would face a huge economic challenge due to the colossal damage incurred on account of the rioting.
“The fruits of the eight-year economic development have been damaged,” he remarked. The burden will ultimately trickle down to the taxpayers,” he added.—PPI
KARACHI: PPP leaders, security officer summoned: Oct 18 inquiry tribunal
By Azfar-ul-Ashfaque
KARACHI, Jan 8: An inquiry tribunal investigating the Oct 18 Karsaz blasts issued notices on Tuesday to two leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s chief security officer for Jan 21.
The tribunal, headed by Justice (retd) Dr Ghaus Mohammad, instructed its liaison officer SSP Niaz Khoso to serve notices on Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Maj-Gen (retd) Ahsan Ahmed and Major (retd) Imtiaz, the chief security officer nominated by the federal government for the former prime minister, so that they could appear before the tribunal to record their statements.
The notices have been issued despite the fact that the PPP distanced itself from the tribunal at the time of its establishment by the government of then chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim.
The three persons summoned by the tribunal have been named by almost all the witnesses as those responsible for security arrangements on Oct 18 from the PPP side.
The tribunal was also informed on Tuesday that the security plan put in place for the Oct 18 homecoming procession of Ms Bhutto did not have provisions for alternative security arrangements in the event of a “mishap”.
“There was no provision in the security plan that in case there was any mishap and injuries on either side [of the float carrying Ms Bhutto and other PPP leaders] the security should not be left and it should be covered by other mobiles,” DSP Jam Saifullah Dharejo, who was deputed on the left side of the float, said in his testimony before the tribunal.
DSP Dharejo said that the distance between his police mobile and Ms Bhutto’s bullet-proof float ranged between eight to ten feet. He recalled that around 300 PPP volunteers had surrounded the float under the instructions of leaders Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Agha Siraj Durrani and others. He said he had no idea whether the volunteers had been searched for weapons.
The DSP said the first blast occurred on the left side at about 12 midnight or 12.05am which caused an injury to his head and left him stunned. The doors of his vehicle had become jammed due to the blast. He jumped out of the window and saw the injured and the dead lying on the ground.
“I went towards the front side of the float and no sooner had I reached there than I heard another blast on the left side. I sustained more injuries. I remember that somebody took me to a nearby ambulance and when I later came to I was at Aga Khan Hospital.”
Answering a question, he said that the blast had occurred at a distance of 15 to 20 feet from his vehicle at Karsaz and at that time the streetlights were on. He said that SSP Security Dr Amin Yousufzai held a meeting with the police officers who had been detailed for duty under the security plan and that he had also attended the meeting.
“What was your duty in case of any mishap? You were commanding one side of the main vehicle and, keeping in view that miscreants could take advantage of disorder, what measures had you taken after the blast?” asked the tribunal. The DSP replied that he had been seriously injured.
“Despite injuries, a police officer should have the nerve to let his subordinate take over so that the primary responsibility of security could be fulfilled. Even if your subordinate was injured, did you ensure that any other subordinate take over?” inquired the tribunal upon which the DSP conceded that he did not ask his subordinate to take over the command.
In response to a question, the police officer conceded that after he left his vehicle due to his injuries, the left side of the float became vacant and there was no security cover. However, he said that on the float’s rear side, SP Pir Farid Jan Sarhandi was present and it was his duty to evacuate Ms Bhutto in case of any emergency.
“Did you inform the SSP Security that after the first blast the left side had become uncovered and there was no security even when Ms Bhutto was present inside the float? Did you inform him that it was a serious lapse to which there was no provision in the security plan?” Justice (retd) Dr Ghaus asked the DSP who said the meeting was neither informed nor did it discuss the failure of security on the left side.
He said no departmental action was taken against any policemen. “The SSP Security appreciated our efforts and observed that we had performed our duties very well,” he added.
“Did the police department recommend your names for appreciation certificates or medals?” inquired the tribunal. The DSP said that the SSP Security informed the police officials that their names would be recommended for appreciation certificates.
VIP status
Earlier, SSP Security (Special Branch) Shahab Mazhar Bhalli informed the tribunal that according to the Blue Book the status of a VVIP was granted only to the president, the prime minister and a foreign dignitary who is a head of state.
“Under our current standard operating procedures, the status of a former prime minister is that of a VIP and accordingly Ms Bhutto was accorded the status of a VIP.”
The SSP, however, said that the inspector-general of police had the authority to enhance a person’s security personnel cover in case of a threat perception.
“The threat perception figured in many intelligence reports, so much so that it was also said that the level of the threat was same as that to the president of Pakistan. The reports indicated that Jihadhi elements, with special reference to the situation obtaining in South Waziristan and Bajaur Agency as well as the Lal Masjid incident, posed a real threat.”
SSP Bhalli claimed that no device or detector had so far been invented which could indicate the presence of a bomb or an explosive device concealed by a person unless he passed through checking points.
He said he heard the news of the blasts at his residence on television channels. He phoned one of the contacts present on the spot who informed him that people were furious against the police as it was suspected that the explosion took place in a stationary vehicle.
He deposed that Inspector Iqbal of the bomb disposal squad informed him that the blast took place somewhere between the vehicle and no crater on the ground could be seen.
Answering a question, he said that the Additional IG Special Branch, two DIGs and he had not visited the route from the airport to Bilawal House but on Oct 17, 2007 the IGP Sindh along with the Additional IG Special Branch and the CCPO visited Terminal 1 and he was also present.
He said that he was not aware if there was light at the time of the incident.
Later, the tribunal adjourned its proceedings for Jan 10.
KARACHI, Jan 8: An inquiry tribunal investigating the Oct 18 Karsaz blasts issued notices on Tuesday to two leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s chief security officer for Jan 21.
The tribunal, headed by Justice (retd) Dr Ghaus Mohammad, instructed its liaison officer SSP Niaz Khoso to serve notices on Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Maj-Gen (retd) Ahsan Ahmed and Major (retd) Imtiaz, the chief security officer nominated by the federal government for the former prime minister, so that they could appear before the tribunal to record their statements.
The notices have been issued despite the fact that the PPP distanced itself from the tribunal at the time of its establishment by the government of then chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim.
The three persons summoned by the tribunal have been named by almost all the witnesses as those responsible for security arrangements on Oct 18 from the PPP side.
The tribunal was also informed on Tuesday that the security plan put in place for the Oct 18 homecoming procession of Ms Bhutto did not have provisions for alternative security arrangements in the event of a “mishap”.
“There was no provision in the security plan that in case there was any mishap and injuries on either side [of the float carrying Ms Bhutto and other PPP leaders] the security should not be left and it should be covered by other mobiles,” DSP Jam Saifullah Dharejo, who was deputed on the left side of the float, said in his testimony before the tribunal.
DSP Dharejo said that the distance between his police mobile and Ms Bhutto’s bullet-proof float ranged between eight to ten feet. He recalled that around 300 PPP volunteers had surrounded the float under the instructions of leaders Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Agha Siraj Durrani and others. He said he had no idea whether the volunteers had been searched for weapons.
The DSP said the first blast occurred on the left side at about 12 midnight or 12.05am which caused an injury to his head and left him stunned. The doors of his vehicle had become jammed due to the blast. He jumped out of the window and saw the injured and the dead lying on the ground.
“I went towards the front side of the float and no sooner had I reached there than I heard another blast on the left side. I sustained more injuries. I remember that somebody took me to a nearby ambulance and when I later came to I was at Aga Khan Hospital.”
Answering a question, he said that the blast had occurred at a distance of 15 to 20 feet from his vehicle at Karsaz and at that time the streetlights were on. He said that SSP Security Dr Amin Yousufzai held a meeting with the police officers who had been detailed for duty under the security plan and that he had also attended the meeting.
“What was your duty in case of any mishap? You were commanding one side of the main vehicle and, keeping in view that miscreants could take advantage of disorder, what measures had you taken after the blast?” asked the tribunal. The DSP replied that he had been seriously injured.
“Despite injuries, a police officer should have the nerve to let his subordinate take over so that the primary responsibility of security could be fulfilled. Even if your subordinate was injured, did you ensure that any other subordinate take over?” inquired the tribunal upon which the DSP conceded that he did not ask his subordinate to take over the command.
In response to a question, the police officer conceded that after he left his vehicle due to his injuries, the left side of the float became vacant and there was no security cover. However, he said that on the float’s rear side, SP Pir Farid Jan Sarhandi was present and it was his duty to evacuate Ms Bhutto in case of any emergency.
“Did you inform the SSP Security that after the first blast the left side had become uncovered and there was no security even when Ms Bhutto was present inside the float? Did you inform him that it was a serious lapse to which there was no provision in the security plan?” Justice (retd) Dr Ghaus asked the DSP who said the meeting was neither informed nor did it discuss the failure of security on the left side.
He said no departmental action was taken against any policemen. “The SSP Security appreciated our efforts and observed that we had performed our duties very well,” he added.
“Did the police department recommend your names for appreciation certificates or medals?” inquired the tribunal. The DSP said that the SSP Security informed the police officials that their names would be recommended for appreciation certificates.
VIP status
Earlier, SSP Security (Special Branch) Shahab Mazhar Bhalli informed the tribunal that according to the Blue Book the status of a VVIP was granted only to the president, the prime minister and a foreign dignitary who is a head of state.
“Under our current standard operating procedures, the status of a former prime minister is that of a VIP and accordingly Ms Bhutto was accorded the status of a VIP.”
The SSP, however, said that the inspector-general of police had the authority to enhance a person’s security personnel cover in case of a threat perception.
“The threat perception figured in many intelligence reports, so much so that it was also said that the level of the threat was same as that to the president of Pakistan. The reports indicated that Jihadhi elements, with special reference to the situation obtaining in South Waziristan and Bajaur Agency as well as the Lal Masjid incident, posed a real threat.”
SSP Bhalli claimed that no device or detector had so far been invented which could indicate the presence of a bomb or an explosive device concealed by a person unless he passed through checking points.
He said he heard the news of the blasts at his residence on television channels. He phoned one of the contacts present on the spot who informed him that people were furious against the police as it was suspected that the explosion took place in a stationary vehicle.
He deposed that Inspector Iqbal of the bomb disposal squad informed him that the blast took place somewhere between the vehicle and no crater on the ground could be seen.
Answering a question, he said that the Additional IG Special Branch, two DIGs and he had not visited the route from the airport to Bilawal House but on Oct 17, 2007 the IGP Sindh along with the Additional IG Special Branch and the CCPO visited Terminal 1 and he was also present.
He said that he was not aware if there was light at the time of the incident.
Later, the tribunal adjourned its proceedings for Jan 10.
Detective who solved Pearl case joins BB probe
ISLAMABAD, Jan 8: The detective who solved the 2002 murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl has joined the probe into the killing of Benazir Bhutto, officials said on Tuesday.
Zubair Mahmood will work with a team of British detectives investigating the December 27 assassination of Ms Bhutto, which plunged the country into turmoil and forced the postponement of key elections, they said.
“He has joined the investigation and will coordinate with the Scotland Yard team,” a senior government official told AFP. An interior ministry official said the detective’s experience in handling high-profile cases would be invaluable.
Mr Zubair, director of the Federal Investigation Agency in Karachi, was the lead investigator credited with unearthing the gang of militants who planned and carried out the killing of Mr Pearl.
He was also sent to the West Indies last year to assist Jamaican police investigating the death of Pakistan cricket team coach Bob Woolmer.
“Zubair, who is joining the investigation team, is a vastly experienced police officer,” interior ministry spokesman Brig (Retd) Javed Cheema told AFP.
Mr Zubair’s role in the Pearl murder probe featured heavily in the 2007 film “A Mighty Heart,” based on the book of the same name by Mariane Pearl, the journalist’s widow.—AFP
Zubair Mahmood will work with a team of British detectives investigating the December 27 assassination of Ms Bhutto, which plunged the country into turmoil and forced the postponement of key elections, they said.
“He has joined the investigation and will coordinate with the Scotland Yard team,” a senior government official told AFP. An interior ministry official said the detective’s experience in handling high-profile cases would be invaluable.
Mr Zubair, director of the Federal Investigation Agency in Karachi, was the lead investigator credited with unearthing the gang of militants who planned and carried out the killing of Mr Pearl.
He was also sent to the West Indies last year to assist Jamaican police investigating the death of Pakistan cricket team coach Bob Woolmer.
“Zubair, who is joining the investigation team, is a vastly experienced police officer,” interior ministry spokesman Brig (Retd) Javed Cheema told AFP.
Mr Zubair’s role in the Pearl murder probe featured heavily in the 2007 film “A Mighty Heart,” based on the book of the same name by Mariane Pearl, the journalist’s widow.—AFP
Suspects in BB’s letter may come under probe
By Syed Irfan Raza
ISLAMABAD, Jan 8: The government may bring all those persons under investigation whom slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto had been blaming for attacks on her.“We will put this matter under consideration,” interior ministry spokesman Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema said at a weekly press briefing here on Tuesday.
The former prime minister shortly after returning to the country from exile had reportedly written a letter to President Pervez Musharraf hinting that some influential persons wanted to kill her and if she died these people should be held responsible.
Asked if forensic experts could unearth people behind the assassination, the spokesman said the Scotland Yard team had both forensic experts and investigators and it could trace the killers and their masterminds.
He said the investigation into the tragic event outside Liaquat Bagh was in progress and the Scotland Yard team was assisting the probe.
Mr Cheema said: “We should wait for the results of the investigation which the government will share with the people.”
About the identification of suicide bomber, he said that forensic investigation was under way and the bomber was yet to be identified.
He said there was no pressure on the investigation team and its members were freely conducting the exercise. “The government is extending full cooperation to the Scotland Yard team and it can investigate any person required for the probe.”
MUHARRAM: Brig Cheema said that 35 districts across the country had been declared sensitive for Muharram processions.
He said that comprehensive security instructions had been issued to the provincial governments to maintain sectarian harmony, peace and order during the holy month. “All security agencies will remain on high alert.”
ISLAMABAD, Jan 8: The government may bring all those persons under investigation whom slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto had been blaming for attacks on her.“We will put this matter under consideration,” interior ministry spokesman Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema said at a weekly press briefing here on Tuesday.
The former prime minister shortly after returning to the country from exile had reportedly written a letter to President Pervez Musharraf hinting that some influential persons wanted to kill her and if she died these people should be held responsible.
Asked if forensic experts could unearth people behind the assassination, the spokesman said the Scotland Yard team had both forensic experts and investigators and it could trace the killers and their masterminds.
He said the investigation into the tragic event outside Liaquat Bagh was in progress and the Scotland Yard team was assisting the probe.
Mr Cheema said: “We should wait for the results of the investigation which the government will share with the people.”
About the identification of suicide bomber, he said that forensic investigation was under way and the bomber was yet to be identified.
He said there was no pressure on the investigation team and its members were freely conducting the exercise. “The government is extending full cooperation to the Scotland Yard team and it can investigate any person required for the probe.”
MUHARRAM: Brig Cheema said that 35 districts across the country had been declared sensitive for Muharram processions.
He said that comprehensive security instructions had been issued to the provincial governments to maintain sectarian harmony, peace and order during the holy month. “All security agencies will remain on high alert.”
Musharraf asks UK team to get to ‘bottom’: BB’s assassination
By Ihtasham ul Haque
ISLAMABAD, Jan 8: President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday called upon the Scotland Yard to make all-out efforts to get to the “bottom of the issue” in the investigation into Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.
“He (president) asked the UK detectives to make all-out efforts to get to the bottom of the issue, for which the government is ready to further provide all kinds of cooperation,” spokesman Maj-Gen (retd) Rashid Qureshi told Dawn after the investigators called on President Musharraf.
He said President Musharraf inquired of the team whether it needed more support from the country’s security and intelligence agencies.
“You do your best and we will do our best to know the truth about the death of the Pakistan People’s Party leader,” Rashid Qureshi quoted the president as saying.
He was asked whether the Scotland Yard team discussed with the president reports about the elimination of evidence after the entire area outside the Liaquat Bagh was cleaned up.
“The Scotland Yard team did not raise this issue nor did the president talk about it,” the spokesman said.
“We want to know how it happened and why it happened,” Maj-Gen (retd) Qureshi further said quoting President Musharraf.
He thanked the UK government for its prompt response to Pakistan’s request.
President Musharraf expressed the hope that the forensic and technical expertise of the Scotland Yard would greatly supplement the efforts of investigating the assassination.
The government of Pakistan, the president said, was committed to unearthing the evidence, finding out the truth and bringing those responsible for this heinous crime to justice.
He assured the British investigators of fullest cooperation of Pakistan’s investigating agencies.
Responding to a question, the spokesman said that the British team left satisfied after the meeting.
This was basically a courtesy call on President Musharraf by the Scotland Yard team during which issues pertaining to the death of Ms Bhutto were discussed in detail and the president assured them that the government would not hide anything and wherever they wanted to go, could go, and they would be provided all the necessary support, Mr Qureshi added.
Asked how long the investigation will continue and that whether he expected any preliminary report by the Scotland Yard soon, the spokesman said that it all depended on the team to say anything about it.
“From our side, they will continue receiving all the needed support from any agency, any organisation or any individual,” he said.
ISLAMABAD, Jan 8: President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday called upon the Scotland Yard to make all-out efforts to get to the “bottom of the issue” in the investigation into Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.
“He (president) asked the UK detectives to make all-out efforts to get to the bottom of the issue, for which the government is ready to further provide all kinds of cooperation,” spokesman Maj-Gen (retd) Rashid Qureshi told Dawn after the investigators called on President Musharraf.
He said President Musharraf inquired of the team whether it needed more support from the country’s security and intelligence agencies.
“You do your best and we will do our best to know the truth about the death of the Pakistan People’s Party leader,” Rashid Qureshi quoted the president as saying.
He was asked whether the Scotland Yard team discussed with the president reports about the elimination of evidence after the entire area outside the Liaquat Bagh was cleaned up.
“The Scotland Yard team did not raise this issue nor did the president talk about it,” the spokesman said.
“We want to know how it happened and why it happened,” Maj-Gen (retd) Qureshi further said quoting President Musharraf.
He thanked the UK government for its prompt response to Pakistan’s request.
President Musharraf expressed the hope that the forensic and technical expertise of the Scotland Yard would greatly supplement the efforts of investigating the assassination.
The government of Pakistan, the president said, was committed to unearthing the evidence, finding out the truth and bringing those responsible for this heinous crime to justice.
He assured the British investigators of fullest cooperation of Pakistan’s investigating agencies.
Responding to a question, the spokesman said that the British team left satisfied after the meeting.
This was basically a courtesy call on President Musharraf by the Scotland Yard team during which issues pertaining to the death of Ms Bhutto were discussed in detail and the president assured them that the government would not hide anything and wherever they wanted to go, could go, and they would be provided all the necessary support, Mr Qureshi added.
Asked how long the investigation will continue and that whether he expected any preliminary report by the Scotland Yard soon, the spokesman said that it all depended on the team to say anything about it.
“From our side, they will continue receiving all the needed support from any agency, any organisation or any individual,” he said.
Two more UK detectives due
By Mohammad Asghar
RAWALPINDI, Jan 8: Two more police officers from Scotland Yard are expected to arrive in Islamabad on Wednesday to join five British forensic experts already helping in the investigation into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Dawn has leant.
The British investigators on Tuesday spent more than two hours at the FIA Headquarters in Islamabad.
The foreign experts are likely to visit the emergency ward of Rawalpindi General Hospital where Ms Bhutto was brought in a critical condition.
Apparently, the hospital administration has made arrangements to show the foreign experts that all the equipment were operating properly when the PPP leader was brought there.
RAWALPINDI, Jan 8: Two more police officers from Scotland Yard are expected to arrive in Islamabad on Wednesday to join five British forensic experts already helping in the investigation into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Dawn has leant.
The British investigators on Tuesday spent more than two hours at the FIA Headquarters in Islamabad.
The foreign experts are likely to visit the emergency ward of Rawalpindi General Hospital where Ms Bhutto was brought in a critical condition.
Apparently, the hospital administration has made arrangements to show the foreign experts that all the equipment were operating properly when the PPP leader was brought there.
Monday, January 7, 2008
UK experts examine remains of ‘bomber’
By Our Staff Reporter
RAWALPINDI, Jan 7: Scot-land Yard’s forensic experts visited the District Headquarters Hospital on Monday and examined the remains of the suspected suicide bomber and inquired about post-mortem reports, official sources said.
Pakistani investigators recorded statements of people injured by the blast. The domestic team is led by Assistant Inspector-General of Police Abdul Majeed.
The British experts spent more than two hours in the hospital, taking tissue samples of the suspected suicide bomber.
They also reviewed lists of victims and inquired about post-mortem reports on the 15 bodies brought to the hospital.
Dr Khalid Iqbal, the hospital’s medical superintendent, said two legs, believed to be those of the suicide bomber, were being kept in the mortuary, adding that three injured people were convalescing in the hospital.
The hospital, he said, had carried external post-mortems of 15 victims, whose bodies had been brought to the hospital.
The reports were shown to the foreign experts, who examined some papers and left the hospital at 2pm.
Later, the team went to the investigation centre in the Police Lines in Rawalpindi and discussed the case with Pakistani investigators.
Meanwhile, a police party sent to Charsada to trace the family of a man whose right hand had been found at the site of the blast, returned to Rawalpindi without any success. The man, who had been identified by the National Database and Registration Authority, was alive and well in Charsada.
“The police team’s efforts were blocked by a flaw in fingerprints taken from the dismembered hand,” a senior security official said.
Meanwhile, the police team also could not tie anyone with the terrorist incident whose ‘visiting cards’ had been found at the blast site.
RAWALPINDI, Jan 7: Scot-land Yard’s forensic experts visited the District Headquarters Hospital on Monday and examined the remains of the suspected suicide bomber and inquired about post-mortem reports, official sources said.
Pakistani investigators recorded statements of people injured by the blast. The domestic team is led by Assistant Inspector-General of Police Abdul Majeed.
The British experts spent more than two hours in the hospital, taking tissue samples of the suspected suicide bomber.
They also reviewed lists of victims and inquired about post-mortem reports on the 15 bodies brought to the hospital.
Dr Khalid Iqbal, the hospital’s medical superintendent, said two legs, believed to be those of the suicide bomber, were being kept in the mortuary, adding that three injured people were convalescing in the hospital.
The hospital, he said, had carried external post-mortems of 15 victims, whose bodies had been brought to the hospital.
The reports were shown to the foreign experts, who examined some papers and left the hospital at 2pm.
Later, the team went to the investigation centre in the Police Lines in Rawalpindi and discussed the case with Pakistani investigators.
Meanwhile, a police party sent to Charsada to trace the family of a man whose right hand had been found at the site of the blast, returned to Rawalpindi without any success. The man, who had been identified by the National Database and Registration Authority, was alive and well in Charsada.
“The police team’s efforts were blocked by a flaw in fingerprints taken from the dismembered hand,” a senior security official said.
Meanwhile, the police team also could not tie anyone with the terrorist incident whose ‘visiting cards’ had been found at the blast site.
Govt will not back request for UN probe, says minister
By Ashraf Mumtaz
LAHORE, Jan 7: The government would not support the PPP’s request for a United Nations investigation into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, caretaker Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz said on Monday.
The minister said that the Scotland Yard team helping the government’s investigating team was very competent and there was no need to bring in the world body.
A team of PPP leaders, led by Senator Farooq Naek, has drafted a letter for the UN to be put up before Asif Ali Zardari for approval on Tuesday. Its approval was delayed when Mr Zardari recently left for Dubai.
According to Attorney-General Malik Mohammad Qayyum, since the UN deals with states and not individuals, it will not entertain any request from the PPP without support from the government.
The interior minister said the PPP had been demanding that Ms Bhutto’s murder investigation be entrusted to some foreign agency.
He said it was because of that demand that the government had invited the Scotland Yard to look into the incident.
He said if the government accepted the PPP demand for a UN probe, there would be no end to its requests
The UN secretary-general had recently said he would have no objection about sending a team to probe Ms Bhutto’s murder provided the request was made by the Pakistan government.
LAHORE, Jan 7: The government would not support the PPP’s request for a United Nations investigation into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, caretaker Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz said on Monday.
The minister said that the Scotland Yard team helping the government’s investigating team was very competent and there was no need to bring in the world body.
A team of PPP leaders, led by Senator Farooq Naek, has drafted a letter for the UN to be put up before Asif Ali Zardari for approval on Tuesday. Its approval was delayed when Mr Zardari recently left for Dubai.
According to Attorney-General Malik Mohammad Qayyum, since the UN deals with states and not individuals, it will not entertain any request from the PPP without support from the government.
The interior minister said the PPP had been demanding that Ms Bhutto’s murder investigation be entrusted to some foreign agency.
He said it was because of that demand that the government had invited the Scotland Yard to look into the incident.
He said if the government accepted the PPP demand for a UN probe, there would be no end to its requests
The UN secretary-general had recently said he would have no objection about sending a team to probe Ms Bhutto’s murder provided the request was made by the Pakistan government.
DSP says he saw man taking a shot at Benazir
By Mohammad Asghar
RAWALPINDI, Jan 7: “A man wearing sunglasses was standing about three metres from Benazir Bhutto’s car and was firing at her with a pistol. As soon as I jumped to overpower him, a mighty explosion occurred.”
These are the words of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Ishtiaq Hussain Shah, who gave his first interview from hospital on Monday. Ishtiaq Shah was among those who sustained multiple injuries in the Dec 27 attack.
President Pervez Musharraf has also admitted that Benazir Bhutto might have been shot. Until now the authorities had been claiming that she died of a skull fracture caused by a lever attached to the sun-roof of her bullet-proof vehicle.
The DSP said that he saw some people appear from nowhere and stop Ms Bhutto’s car while she was leaving the rally.
“I don’t know who they were or from where they came. They were carrying flags of the Pakistan People’s Party and shouting pro-PPP slogans. They just appeared on the road,” he said. “I started to clear the way for Ms Bhutto’s vehicle. I saw a man who was probably wearing a grey jacket and sunglasses shoot from the crowd towards Ms Bhutto. I jumped to overpower him. He was about 10 feet away from my position. A mighty explosion took place soon afterwards.”
He said seconds later he found himself lying at a distance from the scene and darkness overtook the place.
DSP Shah said that he was on the left side of Ms Bhutto’s car.
About security arrangements made by the police for the rally, he said that they were “absolutely perfect”, insisiting that there had been no security lapse on their part.
Ishtiaq Shah, however, said he got worried when he saw that the walk-through gates were not working because of a power breakdown. He feared that people would get inside the rally venue without any security check.
He said he immediately called Rawalpindi Electricity Supplying authorities and requested them to restore power supply. Later, he said he had sought Naheed Khan’s help for getting the power supply restored.
He said: “My family has been in distress since I got injured, but I am thankful to God that I survived.”
RAWALPINDI, Jan 7: “A man wearing sunglasses was standing about three metres from Benazir Bhutto’s car and was firing at her with a pistol. As soon as I jumped to overpower him, a mighty explosion occurred.”
These are the words of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Ishtiaq Hussain Shah, who gave his first interview from hospital on Monday. Ishtiaq Shah was among those who sustained multiple injuries in the Dec 27 attack.
President Pervez Musharraf has also admitted that Benazir Bhutto might have been shot. Until now the authorities had been claiming that she died of a skull fracture caused by a lever attached to the sun-roof of her bullet-proof vehicle.
The DSP said that he saw some people appear from nowhere and stop Ms Bhutto’s car while she was leaving the rally.
“I don’t know who they were or from where they came. They were carrying flags of the Pakistan People’s Party and shouting pro-PPP slogans. They just appeared on the road,” he said. “I started to clear the way for Ms Bhutto’s vehicle. I saw a man who was probably wearing a grey jacket and sunglasses shoot from the crowd towards Ms Bhutto. I jumped to overpower him. He was about 10 feet away from my position. A mighty explosion took place soon afterwards.”
He said seconds later he found himself lying at a distance from the scene and darkness overtook the place.
DSP Shah said that he was on the left side of Ms Bhutto’s car.
About security arrangements made by the police for the rally, he said that they were “absolutely perfect”, insisiting that there had been no security lapse on their part.
Ishtiaq Shah, however, said he got worried when he saw that the walk-through gates were not working because of a power breakdown. He feared that people would get inside the rally venue without any security check.
He said he immediately called Rawalpindi Electricity Supplying authorities and requested them to restore power supply. Later, he said he had sought Naheed Khan’s help for getting the power supply restored.
He said: “My family has been in distress since I got injured, but I am thankful to God that I survived.”
Sunday, January 6, 2008
President’s statement shows need for UN probe: PPP: Musharraf admits BB may have been shot
ISLAMABAD, Jan 6: The party of assassinated leader Benazir Bhutto said on Sunday that President Pervez Musharraf’s admission that she might have been killed by a gunman underscored the need for a UN probe.
In an interview with the US television network CBS President Musharraf admitted for the first time that Ms Bhutto could have been shot. She died in a gun and suicide bomb attack as she left a campaign rally in Rawalpindi on December 27. Her Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has insisted ever since that she was shot.
Mr Musharraf’s comments, however, contradict the interior ministry’s official finding that the gunman missed his target and Ms Bhutto died from bashing her head against the car’s sunroof as she ducked for cover.
The president told the CBS programme “60 Minutes,” in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday, that a gunshot could have been the cause of Ms Bhutto’s fatal injuries after all.
Asked if Ms Bhutto might have been shot, he answered: “Yes, absolutely, yes. Possibility.”
PPP supporters, many of whom believe the authorities know more than they are saying about the murder of the head of Pakistan’s most popular political dynasty, were furious at the about-turn.
“The regime is constantly changing its position and that reinforces doubts and suspicions and lends credence to demands by the PPP for an independent inquiry under UN auspices,” party spokesman Farhatullah Babar told AFP.
Musharraf has invited Scotland Yard to help investigate the murder but has ruled out PPP demands for an UN-led probe.
Video footage of the attack shows a gunman firing several rounds at Ms Bhutto from a pistol at close range as she waved to supporters from the roof of her car after a political rally.
None of the images clearly show her being hit, although from one angle her headscarf appears to flick out. Seconds after the gunman opened fire bombs exploded near Ms Bhutto’s car.
The government quickly blamed a tribal leader, Baitullah Mehsud, linked to Al Qaeda but he has denied any role in the attack.
“I feel that there is a skeleton in the cupboard of the government and that’s why they have been changing their stance,” another senior PPP leader, Babar Awan, said.
“From day one we have been saying that she was shot. It was a conspiracy, a plan executed -- we have absolutely no doubts about it.”
Interior ministry spokesman Brig (Retd) Javed Cheema, who announced the government’s initial findings that Ms Bhutto had not been shot, told AFP: “Whatever the president has said, it must have been right. I cannot add anything to it. The investigations are continuing now and when these are concluded we will share the findings with the public.”
Musharraf also told CBS, according to advance extracts, that Ms Bhutto only had herself to blame for her death.
“For standing up outside the car, I think it was she to blame alone. No body else. Responsibility is hers,” he said.—AFP
In an interview with the US television network CBS President Musharraf admitted for the first time that Ms Bhutto could have been shot. She died in a gun and suicide bomb attack as she left a campaign rally in Rawalpindi on December 27. Her Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has insisted ever since that she was shot.
Mr Musharraf’s comments, however, contradict the interior ministry’s official finding that the gunman missed his target and Ms Bhutto died from bashing her head against the car’s sunroof as she ducked for cover.
The president told the CBS programme “60 Minutes,” in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday, that a gunshot could have been the cause of Ms Bhutto’s fatal injuries after all.
Asked if Ms Bhutto might have been shot, he answered: “Yes, absolutely, yes. Possibility.”
PPP supporters, many of whom believe the authorities know more than they are saying about the murder of the head of Pakistan’s most popular political dynasty, were furious at the about-turn.
“The regime is constantly changing its position and that reinforces doubts and suspicions and lends credence to demands by the PPP for an independent inquiry under UN auspices,” party spokesman Farhatullah Babar told AFP.
Musharraf has invited Scotland Yard to help investigate the murder but has ruled out PPP demands for an UN-led probe.
Video footage of the attack shows a gunman firing several rounds at Ms Bhutto from a pistol at close range as she waved to supporters from the roof of her car after a political rally.
None of the images clearly show her being hit, although from one angle her headscarf appears to flick out. Seconds after the gunman opened fire bombs exploded near Ms Bhutto’s car.
The government quickly blamed a tribal leader, Baitullah Mehsud, linked to Al Qaeda but he has denied any role in the attack.
“I feel that there is a skeleton in the cupboard of the government and that’s why they have been changing their stance,” another senior PPP leader, Babar Awan, said.
“From day one we have been saying that she was shot. It was a conspiracy, a plan executed -- we have absolutely no doubts about it.”
Interior ministry spokesman Brig (Retd) Javed Cheema, who announced the government’s initial findings that Ms Bhutto had not been shot, told AFP: “Whatever the president has said, it must have been right. I cannot add anything to it. The investigations are continuing now and when these are concluded we will share the findings with the public.”
Musharraf also told CBS, according to advance extracts, that Ms Bhutto only had herself to blame for her death.
“For standing up outside the car, I think it was she to blame alone. No body else. Responsibility is hers,” he said.—AFP
British team requested to complete probe before polls
By Syed Irfan Raza & Mohammad Asghar
ISLAMABAD, Jan 6: The Scotland Yard team, which is probing into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, has been asked to complete its investigations before elections.
“We have asked them (the Scotland Yard team) to complete the investigations before Feb 18,” caretaker Interior Minister Lt-Gen (retd) Hamid Nawaz told Dawn on Sunday.
However, the minister clarified that the government had not given any specific deadline to the investigators. The minister said: “We have asked the Scotland Yard team to brief the media about the investigations if they have anything to share.”
An interior ministry official said that the British team on Sunday again visited the Liaquat Bagh, where Ms Bhutto was assassinated and recorded statements of some eyewitnesses.
He dismissed media reports about suicide bombers having entered Islamabad and Rawalpindi. “If we had information about terrorists, they may have been arrested,” he said.
Scotland Yard’s forensic experts went to the Police Lines and re-examined Ms Bhutto’s vehicle.
A source said the British team asked Pakistani investigators to re-enact the scene when Ms Bhutto emerged from the car’s sun-roof.
According to sources, the British investigators spent more than an hour and a half examining the car with hi-tech equipment apparently to verify the government’s claim that Ms Bhutto died of a skull fracture caused by a lever attached to the sun-roof of her vehicle.
They also took some photographs.
One of the vehicle’s tyres had been ruptured by the blast.
The sources quoted Pakistani investigators as having informed the British team that Ms Bhutto remained standing in the vehicle for about 30 seconds, providing an opportunity to the suicide bomber to strike. They said that the bomber was probably moving towards Raja Bazaar but he struck when he saw the vehicle stopping and Ms Bhutto emerging from its sun-roof.
The source said it was yet to be determined if the suicide bomber was acting alone or if there was someone else to back him up.
The UK team later visited the ‘investigation centre’ set up in the Police Lines.
Pakistani investigators, the sources said, had recovered a dismembered right hand whose fingers were frozen in such a manner as if they had been holding a pistol. They had also recovered a pistol from the crime scene from which three shots had been fired while a fourth one was found stuck inside it.
Fingerprints of the hand had been taken and officials awaited results of its DNA test, the sources said.
A source close to the investigation said that the team was provided evidence collected from the crime scene and that it had been “examined very carefully”.
The foreign team is expected to visit people injured by the blast on Monday.
ISLAMABAD, Jan 6: The Scotland Yard team, which is probing into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, has been asked to complete its investigations before elections.
“We have asked them (the Scotland Yard team) to complete the investigations before Feb 18,” caretaker Interior Minister Lt-Gen (retd) Hamid Nawaz told Dawn on Sunday.
However, the minister clarified that the government had not given any specific deadline to the investigators. The minister said: “We have asked the Scotland Yard team to brief the media about the investigations if they have anything to share.”
An interior ministry official said that the British team on Sunday again visited the Liaquat Bagh, where Ms Bhutto was assassinated and recorded statements of some eyewitnesses.
He dismissed media reports about suicide bombers having entered Islamabad and Rawalpindi. “If we had information about terrorists, they may have been arrested,” he said.
Scotland Yard’s forensic experts went to the Police Lines and re-examined Ms Bhutto’s vehicle.
A source said the British team asked Pakistani investigators to re-enact the scene when Ms Bhutto emerged from the car’s sun-roof.
According to sources, the British investigators spent more than an hour and a half examining the car with hi-tech equipment apparently to verify the government’s claim that Ms Bhutto died of a skull fracture caused by a lever attached to the sun-roof of her vehicle.
They also took some photographs.
One of the vehicle’s tyres had been ruptured by the blast.
The sources quoted Pakistani investigators as having informed the British team that Ms Bhutto remained standing in the vehicle for about 30 seconds, providing an opportunity to the suicide bomber to strike. They said that the bomber was probably moving towards Raja Bazaar but he struck when he saw the vehicle stopping and Ms Bhutto emerging from its sun-roof.
The source said it was yet to be determined if the suicide bomber was acting alone or if there was someone else to back him up.
The UK team later visited the ‘investigation centre’ set up in the Police Lines.
Pakistani investigators, the sources said, had recovered a dismembered right hand whose fingers were frozen in such a manner as if they had been holding a pistol. They had also recovered a pistol from the crime scene from which three shots had been fired while a fourth one was found stuck inside it.
Fingerprints of the hand had been taken and officials awaited results of its DNA test, the sources said.
A source close to the investigation said that the team was provided evidence collected from the crime scene and that it had been “examined very carefully”.
The foreign team is expected to visit people injured by the blast on Monday.
Detectives inspect assassination site: Shoes found missing from vehicle
By Mohammad Asghar
RAWALPINDI, Jan 5: The Scotland Yard’s investigators visited the Liaquat Bagh on Saturday and examined Benazir Bhutto’s bullet-proof car.
The British team arrived at the scene of the blast at 2.55pm and stayed there for over two hours.
The security forces cordoned off the periphery of the park hours before the team’s arrival.
Earlier, an interesting situation developed when the British team visited Police Lines Headquarters, Rawalpindi, to examine Ms Bhutto’s car.
A source said the police officials were taken by surprise when the experts asked them to produce the black shoes she had been wearing at the time of the assassination and which were later declared a “case property”. But the shoes were not found in the car.
The source said after some time, a DSP brought Ms Bhutto’s shoes from “somewhere else” and gave it to the investigators.
In the afternoon, the Scotland Yard team went to the Police Lines, re-examining Ms Bhutto’s car and inspecting her squad car, which had been impounded by the police after the tragedy.
A heavy deployment of police and Elite Force guarded the scene and police commandos had perched themselves on rooftops.
The officials later saw a reconstruction of the events leading to the assassination.
The team was shown a jeep parked right in the middle of the road in a re-enactment of the scene when Ms Bhutto’s vehicle stopped before the attack.
The British team also inquired about the security plan for Dec 27 and positions of senior police officials. They also saw the stage and the park’s vicinity.
The experts also inspected rooftops of some buildings within a radius of 150-200 metres from the scene of the shooting, taking some measurements and photographs.
A source close to the investigation said the police had retrieved two pistols from the place — one of which was thought to be that of the assassin.
Earlier on Friday night, the Pakistani team probing the incident visited the District Headquarters Hospital and examined some human body parts.
‘People in and outside govt must be probed’
By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Jan 5: People within and outside the government must be held accountable for the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, says Asif Ali Zardari.
In an article published in The Washington Post on Saturday, PPP’s co-chairman reiterated his demand for a UN-led probe into Ms Bhutto’s death.
“I call on the United Nations to commence a thorough investigation of the circumstances, facts and cover-up of my wife’s murder,” he wrote.
“Her murder does not end her vision and must not be allowed to empower her assassins.” The investigation, he said, should be modelled on the probe into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri.
“And I call on the friends of democracy in the West, in particular the United States and Britain, to endorse the call for such an independent investigation.”
Mr Zardari said an investigation conducted by the government of Pakistan would have no credibility, in the country or anywhere else.
“One does not put the fox in charge of the henhouse,” he wrote.
He claimed that Ms Bhutto was assassinated to weaken the case for a democratic government in Pakistan.
Recalling his wife’s tenure as prime minister, Mr Zardari said the military used to intervene into her administration “and a treacherous intelligence network; a fragile coalition government; and a presidential sword of Damocles always threatened to dismiss her government.”
Mr Zardari claimed that the government postponed the elections not because of logistical problems, but because of the fear that the “King’s Party” would lose and the Pakistan People’s Party and other pro-democracy parties would have garnered a majority.
Democracy in Pakistan can be saved, and extremism and fanaticism contained, only if the elections, when they are held, are free, fair and credible, he said.
To ensure the fairness of the electoral process, Mr Zardari suggested that: (1) the elections are held under a new, neutral caretaker government, free of cronies from Mr Musharraf’s party; (2) supervised by an independent and autonomous election commission formed in consultation with the major political parties; (3) monitored by trained international observers who have unfettered access to all polling stations as well as the right to conduct exit polling to verify results; (4) covered by electronic and print media with the freedoms they had before martial law was imposed on Nov. 3; and (5) arbitrated by an independent judiciary as provided for in the constitution. In addition, all political activists, lawyers and judges detained since Nov 3 must be released.
Mr Zardari said he would work with his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and would protect him (Bilawal) to the extent possible in the trying times ahead.
He recalled that even before Ms Bhutto’s first term as prime minister, the intelligence agencies had started working to “discredit her, targeting me and several of her friends.”
He claimed it were people hired by the intelligence agencies who gave him the name of “Mr Ten Percent,” adding: “The names of her friends abroad were besmirched with ridiculous charges that they headed the nonexistent Indo-Zionist lobby.”
Mr Zardari said that such a campaign of character assassination was perhaps the first institutional application of the politics of personal destruction.
WASHINGTON, Jan 5: People within and outside the government must be held accountable for the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, says Asif Ali Zardari.
In an article published in The Washington Post on Saturday, PPP’s co-chairman reiterated his demand for a UN-led probe into Ms Bhutto’s death.
“I call on the United Nations to commence a thorough investigation of the circumstances, facts and cover-up of my wife’s murder,” he wrote.
“Her murder does not end her vision and must not be allowed to empower her assassins.” The investigation, he said, should be modelled on the probe into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri.
“And I call on the friends of democracy in the West, in particular the United States and Britain, to endorse the call for such an independent investigation.”
Mr Zardari said an investigation conducted by the government of Pakistan would have no credibility, in the country or anywhere else.
“One does not put the fox in charge of the henhouse,” he wrote.
He claimed that Ms Bhutto was assassinated to weaken the case for a democratic government in Pakistan.
Recalling his wife’s tenure as prime minister, Mr Zardari said the military used to intervene into her administration “and a treacherous intelligence network; a fragile coalition government; and a presidential sword of Damocles always threatened to dismiss her government.”
Mr Zardari claimed that the government postponed the elections not because of logistical problems, but because of the fear that the “King’s Party” would lose and the Pakistan People’s Party and other pro-democracy parties would have garnered a majority.
Democracy in Pakistan can be saved, and extremism and fanaticism contained, only if the elections, when they are held, are free, fair and credible, he said.
To ensure the fairness of the electoral process, Mr Zardari suggested that: (1) the elections are held under a new, neutral caretaker government, free of cronies from Mr Musharraf’s party; (2) supervised by an independent and autonomous election commission formed in consultation with the major political parties; (3) monitored by trained international observers who have unfettered access to all polling stations as well as the right to conduct exit polling to verify results; (4) covered by electronic and print media with the freedoms they had before martial law was imposed on Nov. 3; and (5) arbitrated by an independent judiciary as provided for in the constitution. In addition, all political activists, lawyers and judges detained since Nov 3 must be released.
Mr Zardari said he would work with his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and would protect him (Bilawal) to the extent possible in the trying times ahead.
He recalled that even before Ms Bhutto’s first term as prime minister, the intelligence agencies had started working to “discredit her, targeting me and several of her friends.”
He claimed it were people hired by the intelligence agencies who gave him the name of “Mr Ten Percent,” adding: “The names of her friends abroad were besmirched with ridiculous charges that they headed the nonexistent Indo-Zionist lobby.”
Mr Zardari said that such a campaign of character assassination was perhaps the first institutional application of the politics of personal destruction.
Jammers were not provided, says Malik
By Shamim-ur-Rahman
KARACHI, Jan 5: Dr Rehman Malik, the chief security adviser to the slain PPP chairperson, said on Saturday that a serving police official, and not he, was in charge of Benazir Bhutto’s detail, claiming that he had pointed out the inadequacies in measures taken by the government for the Dec 27 public meeting.
Dr Malik, who spoke at a news conference at Bilawal House, accused the government of sowing doubts and resorting to slander to shift attention from the “real culprits” behind Ms Bhutto’s assassination.
Dr Rehman Malik chose the occasion to defend himself against charges levelled by some PML-Q leaders that he had a lot to answer for since he handled Benazir Bhutto’s security arrangements.
Major Imtiaz had been deputed for the purpose, Dr Malik said.
He said Ms Bhutto had anticipated threats to her life and for that reason the party had acquired two B6 category land cruisers (armoured vehicles) for her transportation.
He said the PPP had repeatedly urged the government to ensure security that measures at par with those for the prime minister and the president.
He said Major Imtiaz, a serving police official, was selected for her physical security and the party’s volunteers also reported to him.
He said that after the Oct 18 incident, the party had asked for enhanced security measures for her. Dr Rehman Malik emphasized that “prime responsibility of Benazir Bhutto’s security is and was with the government because the PPP had no adequate measures. He said that the federal government gave directives to the provincial government for necessary security measures.
He said the PPP had sought two vehicles on the right and the same number of vehicles on the left side of the vehicle in which Ms Bhutto was traveling for adequate security shield. But that was not visible on the fateful day.
Dr Malik said that while Ms Bhutto’s caravan was moving on the Murree Road prior to her Liaquat Bagh public meeting, he received a call from her enquiring about jammers.
When he asked about jammers from Major Imtiaz and SP Yasin Farooq, he was informed that the same had not been provided. Dr Malik said that when he phoned the IG Punjab he was not available and his staff said he was in a meeting. Then he contacted Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah who promised that the same would be made available soon.
He said the presence of crowds on the Liaquat Bagh’s entry and exit points was also shocking and in violation of the security drill for VIPs. He mentioned the depletion in the deployment of police force on her way back. When this situation was pointed out to Yasin Farooq, he said that detachment had to be sent to deal with the situation resulting from attack on PML-N procession.
KARACHI, Jan 5: Dr Rehman Malik, the chief security adviser to the slain PPP chairperson, said on Saturday that a serving police official, and not he, was in charge of Benazir Bhutto’s detail, claiming that he had pointed out the inadequacies in measures taken by the government for the Dec 27 public meeting.
Dr Malik, who spoke at a news conference at Bilawal House, accused the government of sowing doubts and resorting to slander to shift attention from the “real culprits” behind Ms Bhutto’s assassination.
Dr Rehman Malik chose the occasion to defend himself against charges levelled by some PML-Q leaders that he had a lot to answer for since he handled Benazir Bhutto’s security arrangements.
Major Imtiaz had been deputed for the purpose, Dr Malik said.
He said Ms Bhutto had anticipated threats to her life and for that reason the party had acquired two B6 category land cruisers (armoured vehicles) for her transportation.
He said the PPP had repeatedly urged the government to ensure security that measures at par with those for the prime minister and the president.
He said Major Imtiaz, a serving police official, was selected for her physical security and the party’s volunteers also reported to him.
He said that after the Oct 18 incident, the party had asked for enhanced security measures for her. Dr Rehman Malik emphasized that “prime responsibility of Benazir Bhutto’s security is and was with the government because the PPP had no adequate measures. He said that the federal government gave directives to the provincial government for necessary security measures.
He said the PPP had sought two vehicles on the right and the same number of vehicles on the left side of the vehicle in which Ms Bhutto was traveling for adequate security shield. But that was not visible on the fateful day.
Dr Malik said that while Ms Bhutto’s caravan was moving on the Murree Road prior to her Liaquat Bagh public meeting, he received a call from her enquiring about jammers.
When he asked about jammers from Major Imtiaz and SP Yasin Farooq, he was informed that the same had not been provided. Dr Malik said that when he phoned the IG Punjab he was not available and his staff said he was in a meeting. Then he contacted Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah who promised that the same would be made available soon.
He said the presence of crowds on the Liaquat Bagh’s entry and exit points was also shocking and in violation of the security drill for VIPs. He mentioned the depletion in the deployment of police force on her way back. When this situation was pointed out to Yasin Farooq, he said that detachment had to be sent to deal with the situation resulting from attack on PML-N procession.
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