Zardari has killed Benazir, Murtaza Bhutto: Musharraf

Naimat Khan

KARACHI: Former Military dictator, who an anti-terrorism court has declared absconder in Benazir Murder Case, on Thursday issued a video message addressing son and daughters of the former slain Prime Minister, alleging that former President Asif Ali Zardari was involved in murder of both Benazir Bhutto and her brother Murtaza Bhutto.

The former military dictator, while defending the officials who washed the evidences, said that good officials were handed down 17-year jail term whereas terrorists were set free.

“Asif Ali Zardari challenged me, which I couldn’t tolerate. I was quiet but Zardari for the first time directly alleged me for the murder of Benazir Bhutto so I am going to respond,” Musharraf said, adding that his analysis will prove that Zardari besides killing Benazir Bhutto and Murtaza Bhutto destroyed the Bhutto family.

“Every time there is a murder, the first thing that needs to be seen is who has the most to gain from the death. In this case, I had everything to lose as I was in power and the murder put my government in a difficult situation,” he said.

“There was just one person who had everything to gain from Benazir’s assassination, and that was Asif Ali Zardari,” he continued, proceeding into what he termed as his ‘analysis’ of the case.

“Zardari was in power for five years: why did he not look into the case? Why was the investigation not active? [That is] because he was involved in Benazir’s murder.”

“The evidence is clear that Baitullah Mehsud and his people were involved in the murder; but who had asked them to target Benazir Bhutto? It could not have been me — the group hated me, and the feeling was mutual.”

Giving his ‘reply’, he said he is especially addressing [Benazir and Zardari’s children] Bilawal, Aseefa and Bakhtawar, as well as the Bhutto family and all Sindhis and Pakistanis who have been following “this murderer of Benazir”.

“I believe that the reason for the Bhutto family’s demise and the responsible person for Benazir and Murtaza’s murder is Zardari. In any murder, it should be noted who benefits and who loses. I lost a lot from Benazir’s assassination while Zardari benefitted,” he said.

Terming [then TTP chief] Baitullah Mehsud’s role in Benazir’s killing “a reality”, Musharraf said all evidence is available in this regard. He said Mehsud was his enemy and he [Musharraf] wanted him dead.

The former president also hinted at the role of Afghan intelligence agency Khad and then president Hamid Karzai in facilitating the assassination with Zardari. He said an examination of Benazir’s phone could have proved this but it was only made available after two years — “obviously someone must have erased all its data”.

Musharraf also criticised the fact that those sitting with Benazir inside her vehicle — Naheed Khan, Safdar Abbasi, Makhdoom Amin Fahim and “jail buddy” Khalid Shahenshah — were not questioned by the court.

The former president also questioned the credentials of Malik and Shahenshah for becoming “security in-charges” of Benazir.

Musharraf said Shahenshah was killed under unusual circumstances soon after Benazir’s assassination, which raised eyebrows.”Only one person is capable of all this – Zardari”. He also questioned the change in Benazir’s return route and Malik’s dashing to Islamabad right after the incident.

In his response to Musharraf’s tirade, PPP leader Saeed Ghani said former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf is trying to save his own skin by leveling allegations against Asif Ali Zardari.

“Musharraf is only worried about the appeals filed by PPP in the Benazir Bhutto murder case”. “If he [Musharraf] is innocent, he should return to the country, appear before the court and prove his innocence.” Musharraf has been absconding in the case, if he claims to be innocent he should prove it, Ghani added.

Meanwhile, Vice-President PPPP, Senator Sherry Rehman has appealed for swift justice for Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

Rehman said, “It has been 10 years since SMBB’s assassination and we are still fighting for justice. We were not allowed to become party to the case this whole decade. Now in appeal against the verdict that allows the perpetrators and planners to go free the PPP will go on every forum to appeal and fight for justice. We will knock on every door if that’s what it takes”.

“The whole nation anxiously waited for this verdict with us regardless of their political affiliation,” she added.

Responding to the bizarre allegations leveled by Pervez Musharraf against Asif Ali Zardari, Rehman said, “If Musharraf knew about SMBB’s and Murtaza Bhutto’s murderers then why he was quiet until now? Why didn’t Musharraf speak up earlier when the UN Commission came? Musharraf was in power for 10 years in Pakistan so why did he not do anything for Murtaza Bhutto’s case? He is worried now that questions will be asked about his role in her murder. This is a classic case of “chor machaye shor”. We all know that SMBB specifically took Musharraf’s name in her e-mail to Mark Seigel”.

Rehman further added, “It has been 10 years since SMBB died and somehow he just woke up about her murderers now? If Zardari wanted to run from the SMBB cases then he would have never filed three appeals. Whatever Musharraf has to say, he should say it in Pakistan”.

“Why did Musharraf’s own people try to wash away evidence and cover up the crime? Who was involved in this conspiracy? These questions are very serious and should not be forgotten because we will always keep appealing until we achieve justice,” concluded the Senator.