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			<title>Paying tribute: Benazir Bhutto’s 8th death anniversary observed at Garhi Khuda Bux</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1017301/paying-tribute-benazir-bhuttos-8th-death-anniversary-observed-at-garhi-khuda-bux</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1017301/paying-tribute-benazir-bhuttos-8th-death-anniversary-observed-at-garhi-khuda-bux#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 27 Dec 15 18:18:10 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[sarfaraz.memon]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Strict security measures had been put in place for Naudero and Garhi Khuda Bux for the day]]>
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				<![CDATA[The eighth death anniversary of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was observed in Garhi Khuda Bux — a village in Rotadero taluka that houses the Bhuttos' ancestral graveyard — amid tight security.

Around 7,000 police personnel, including SSPs, DSPs, commandos, female police officials, bomb disposal squad officials as well as 500 Rangers personnel were deployed in Garhi Khuda Bux and Naudero for the occasion. Besides, more than 20 walk-through gates were installed at various points to screen visitors before they entered the mausoleum's premises. The day started with a Quran Khawani at the mausoleum, which was attended by a large number of people. After the prayers, food was distributed among the participants. Ironically, as soon as the vehicles carrying cauldrons of Biryani entered the premises of the mausoleum, a large number of people rushed to get their share, but the police personnel deployed on security duty ran towards the vehicles, pushed the people back and took away most of the food packets.

Govt using NAP illegally to target PPP, says Bilawal Bhutto

Police protest

Realising that most of the top officials of the Sindh government would be in attendance, the 93 police personnel from Jacobabad, who were recently sacked, staged a protest demonstration demanding restoration of their jobs. Unfortunately, no one paid them much heed.



On the other hand, two men were caught by people for trying to force their way into the mausoleum. The crowd physically assaulted the suspects before handing them over to the police. Their motives, however, remained undisclosed, as according to reports, nothing was found from the intruders' possession. Later in the morning, the general public was forced out of the mausoleum when different leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party, including Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, paid a visit to pay homage to the martyrs.

Strict security: Arrangements made for Benazir Bhutto’s 8th death anniversary

Surprise visit

The PPP chairperson, Bilawal, who had arrived in Naudero House on Saturday afternoon, paid a surprise visit to Larkana city, where he went round the camps established by the party to welcome the participants. His visit surprised party workers, who rushed to get a glimpse of their leader. Some of the lucky ones managed to take selfies with the young leader too. On Sunday, as the PPP chairperson was about to leave Naudero House for Garhi Khuda Bux, his aunt, MNA Faryal Talpur, tied an 'Imam Zamin' on his arm as a token of security. Later, Bilawal, accompanied by his sister Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, aunt Faryal and party's senior vice-president president Senator Sherry Rehman, left for the venue.



On arrival, participants accorded Bilawal a warm welcome by shouting slogans of 'Jeay Bhutto' and 'Zinda Hai Bibi Zinda hai'. Though Bilawal has made many public appearances, this was first big appearance for Aseefa, who kept waving to the crowd for several minutes. According to political pundits, it was a big day for Bilawal, because he finally had a chance to prove his mettle in the absence of his father and party's co-chairperson, Asif Ali Zardari. The latter's absence was excused by Senator Rehman Malik on account of health problems. The senator termed Zardari 'Baba-e-Siyasat', while justifying his absence.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28th, 2015.]]>
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			<title>Courage in life and death: From Pinky to Benazir</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/566227/courage-in-life-and-death-from-pinky-to-benazir</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/566227/courage-in-life-and-death-from-pinky-to-benazir#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 21 Jun 13 04:47:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[mazhar.abbas]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[On her 60th birthday, here’s celebrating Pakistan’s most prominent politician.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The year was 1996. As I interviewed Begum Nusrat Bhutto at 70 Clifton, she described her eldest daughter Benazir Bhutto aka Pinky as the most dominating child in their family. “Once Bhutto Sahab brought a big toy car for Murtaza as his birthday gift, but Pinky took it away, saying ‘why has he not brought me one?’ But she always cared deeply for her sister and brothers,” she had said.


BB, as she is fondly called, was destined to dominate. She went on to dominate Pakistani politics for over three decades.  More than five years after this brilliant mind was snuffed out, her party continues to grapple with the loss while the people remember her fondly. She would have been 60 today.

Born on this day as daughter of the charismatic leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, BB’s life story has more tragedies and sufferings than happiness. Though she became the prime minister twice, the tenures lasted only 18 and 22 months.



Despite strong opposition from conservatives, this trailblazer created history by becoming the first woman prime minister of the Islamic world and Pakistan.

Her leadership qualities led her to become the president of the Oxford Union. Bhutto saw in her someone who could carry on with his legacy, which she did.

Benazir took charge of the party soon after the formation of Movement for Restoration of Democracy (MRD) in 1981, but her real political journey began after her historic arrival in Lahore on April 10, 1986 when she was received by an estimated 0.5 million people.

This skilled politician knew the art of agitation and on several occasions dodged the police and intelligence agencies and led the protest rallies.

In her last meeting with ZAB in the death cell on the night of April 3, 1979, she reportedly kept taking notes like a student from a teacher. While Begum Bhutto kept crying throughout, BB knew it was a moment which would never come again, a moment to take final guidance from her political mentor. One of the advices she got from him in that meeting was about whom to trust and whom not to trust in the PPP.

She surprised many when she married Asif Ali Zardari in 1987. “In our culture marriage at the right time is very important,” she once said. A truly awaami leader, a grand reception to celebrate her wedding was arranged in Lyari.

She gave birth to her eldest son Bilawal at a time of struggle. Even the birth of two daughters did not slow down her political journey despite threats.

She was undoubtedly a courageous leader who led from the front. On October 18, 2007, because of death threats, she could have postponed the rally, but she decided to go ahead. Even after the suicide blast in which 150 PPP workers were killed, she did not sit back at Bilawal House, but on the very next day visited the injured workers.

On that fateful day, December 27, 2007, she could have addressed the public meeting in Liaquat Bagh via video link but faced the threats. This kind of courage is rarely seen. Her assailants and conspirators knew well about her courage. They thus planned the successful attack and killed her.

She committed many mistakes during her two brief tenures and her governance qualities remain controversial. But it is also an admitted fact that during her tenures, the establishment conspired several times to dislodge her government.

Yet, despite her mistakes, BB has left an indelible mark on Pakistani politics. Her bravery and sacrifices for democracy cannot be forgotten. She has left a gap that may never be filled.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Benazir murder case: Pervez Musharraf granted bail</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/551870/benazir-murder-case-pervez-musharraf-granted-bail</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/551870/benazir-murder-case-pervez-musharraf-granted-bail#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 May 13 10:15:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=551870</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The court ordered Musharraf to submit two surety bonds of Rs 1 million each.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Former dictator and arrested suspect Pervez Musharraf was granted bail in the Benazir Bhutto murder case, reported Express News on Monday.

The court ordered Musharraf to submit two surety bonds of Rs 1 million each even though the FIA prosecutor suggested that Musharraf should be made to pay Rs 1 billion for the bail.

Musharraf’s lawyers argued that this was a political case and the responsibility of Benazir’s security lay with the officers on duty, not Musharraf.

Another arrested suspect in the case Abdur Rasheed Turabi was denied bail by the court.

Pervez Musarraf is now at the centre of two cases, the illegal disposition of judges’ case and the Akbar Bugti case.

Musharraf’s lawyers plan to apply for bail in the judges’ detention case on May 22.

Safe exit for Musharraf?

PML-N sources said there was growing sense within the party’s ranks that Musharraf’s presence in the country and his possible trial could distract the new government from pressing issues. Therefore, if the former president is allowed to leave the country under the pretext of his mother’s ill health or any other reason, the party should not object to it.

While it is clear what the Sharifs intend to do, one party leader said: “If Musharraf leaves the country before the government takes charge, it will be a win-win situation.”

Reportedly, a message has been circulated within the army that Musharraf will be allowed to leave the country soon. The ‘message’ was conveyed in a bid to pacify growing unease within the army over the trial of its former chief.

Read more: Behind closed doors: Nawaz, Kayani agree on ‘policy overhaul’]]>
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			<title>Benazir assassination case: FIA prosecutor gunned down</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/544293/benazir-assassination-case-fia-prosecutor-gunned-down</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/544293/benazir-assassination-case-fia-prosecutor-gunned-down#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 04 May 13 00:42:17 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[sehrish.wasif]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=544293</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Zulfiqar Ali ambushed by gunmen in Islamabad.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The main prosecutor in the Benazir Bhutto murder case was himself gunned down on Friday moments after he left his house in Islamabad’s G-9/1 sector.


Federal Investigation Agency Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali, who also pursued the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, was intercepted by gunmen in front of the Post Office and shot at least seven to nine times at close range. He, along with his guard, was on his way to the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Rawalpindi for Benazir’s murder case hearing.

The prominent lawyer was driving the car when the assassins opened fire, fatally wounding him. The out of control vehicle ended up crashing into a footpath and killing a pedestrian. His guard, Farman Ali, was also injured in the lower back during the ambush but managed to call the police immediately after the attack.

“His security guard sitting in the front of the car was also hit, but he returned fire and injured one of the attackers,” said a police officer, who is a part of the investigation team constituted by the chief commissioner Islamabad on the orders of the interior ministry.

Zulfiqar was on his way to the ATC for the hearing of former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s plea to excuse him from making a personal appearance before the court. Earlier this week, Musharraf was placed under two-week house arrest over charges that he conspired to murder Benazir Bhutto.

The hearing was adjourned till May 14 following Zulfiqar’s murder.

The investigation team is being headed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Security Tahir Alam Khan and includes Superintendent Saddar Jameel Hashmi, Superintendent Investigation Mustansar Feroz, Sub-Division Police Officer Margalla and an officer each from the Crime Investigation Department (CID) and FIA.

After initial investigations, police said that two unidentified gunmen equipped with submachine guns sprayed Ali’s white Toyota Corolla with bullets.

Police said the suspects then escaped in a car with no license plate. However, some eyewitnesses said they fled on a motorbike.

“I heard gunshots and saw the car speeding towards us. The car hit the footpath and ran over a woman who was on her way home after taking her son to school,” said Amna, a 50-year-old homeless woman present at the scene. She said the woman died at the spot. She denied seeing the gunmen.

Police said most of the eyewitnesses who recorded their statements were standing at a bus stand located a good distance away from the crime scene and they gave varying accounts of the incident.

Zulfiqar was put into a taxi by local people and driven to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Threats to the prosecutor

Zufliqar was given extra government security last year after receiving threats for his role in the Benazir Bhutto murder case.

His deputy, Chaudhry Muhammad Azhar, told reporters that he had received threatening phone calls from unknown numbers in Afghanistan and the tribal areas telling him to quit the case.

“We have informed the court and authorities concerned about the threats. If security is not provided to the lawyers then no one will hear any case in the future,” he warned.

A native of Jhelum, Zulfiqar is survived by his wife and sons Chaudhry Nisar and Chaudhry Qamar.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Sinister twists</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/543997/sinister-twists</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/543997/sinister-twists#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 03 May 13 16:55:48 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[We must demand Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali’s death be investigated fully.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[We are accustomed to unfortunate events marring our history, blocking justice and leaving a myriad of mysteries drifting through the past. These date back to the 1951 assassination of Liaquat Ali Khan. Each time, conspiracies, conjecture and apparent cover-ups are spoken of — and we appear to be witnessing precisely the same series of events once more. In Islamabad on May 3, two unknown assailants on a motorcycle pumped some 10 bullets into the chest and shoulder of Federal Investigation Agency’s Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali as he left his home. Zulfiqar died at the hospital. He had been due to appear the same day before an Anti-Terrorism Court hearing the Benazir Bhutto assassination case — and his obviously intricately planned shooting is, of course, being linked to this. Zulfiqar was also the prosecutor in the 2008 Mumbai bombings case and held a reputation as a competent officer. This may, of course, explain why he was gunned down.



Benazir Bhutto was killed in December 2007 in what ranks as possibly the most significant killing in our recent political history. More than five years on, it remains unsolved. The murder of Zulfiqar Ali decreases the possibility we will ever know the truth and this is extremely unfortunate. Other key persons in the case, including Benazir’s security officer, have died before this latest incident. Indeed, the whole affair is beginning to, rather eerily, resemble the case involving the gunning down in Karachi in 1996 of Benazir’s younger brother Mir Murtaza Bhutto. This, too, was followed by the killing of key witnesses and investigators.

We must demand Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali’s death be investigated fully. The trail leading back from it must be followed. No more curtains must be drawn to hide what really happened. Such acts only make matters worse, adding to uncertainty and the uncomfortable feeling that we live in a realm of darkness where much is kept hidden from the eyes of the citizens and the most drastic acts are carried out by unknown persons to prevent the truth from breaking through from behind this shield. Chaudhry Zulfiqar seems to have become the latest victim of these forces.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Benazir murder case: FIA prosecutor shot dead in Islamabad</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/543894/benazir-murder-case-fia-prosecutor-shot-dead-in-islamabad</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/543894/benazir-murder-case-fia-prosecutor-shot-dead-in-islamabad#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 03 May 13 04:43:14 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=543894</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Ali was scheduled to appear in an anti-terrorism court  Rawalpindi today, pertaining to Benazir murder case.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Federal Investigation Agency Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali was murdered in an attack on Friday, Express News reported.

Ali was investigating the Benazir Bhutto murder case.

Gunmen on a motorcycle pumped 12 bullets into Ali as he left his home in Islamabad, sources told Reuters.

According to the initial post mortem report, 14 injury marks were present on his body. He was shot in his head, arm and chest.

A Dawn.com report stated that the firing incident also killed a woman and injured Ali’s guard Rehman Ali. The guard was reported as saying that the attacker’s only intended target was Ali who had been receiving threats since a while.

Ali was scheduled to appear in an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi today, pertaining to the Benazir murder case.

Ali was also the prosecutor investigating the 2008 Mumbai attacks, in which 166 people were killed.]]>
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			<title>Benazir Bhutto Murder case: Rehman Malik blames Musharraf for security lapse</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/542984/benazir-bhutto-murder-case-rehman-malik-blames-musharraf-for-security-lapse</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/542984/benazir-bhutto-murder-case-rehman-malik-blames-musharraf-for-security-lapse#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 May 13 09:26:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[umer.nangiana]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=542984</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Anti-terrorism court takes former president into judicial remand.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Former interior minister Rehman malik has once again blamed former president Pervez Musharraf for not providing sufficient security to the assassinated PPP leader.

In a statement recorded before the head of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Additional Director General Khalid Qureshi, Malik said he wrote multiple letters to Musharrafrequesting him to provide appropriate security to Benazir Bhutto.

“Malik was approached by the JIT after Musharraf’s recent statements were recorded during his physical remand,” said an official of the FIA. He added that the former president had earlier told Qureshi and his team of investigators that the government had already conveyed the risks and dangers involved in Benazir’s visit to LiaquatBagh on the day of her assassination.

Musharraf told the investigators that Malik had not only ignored the warning, but was not evenpresent when the bomb attack took place.

Malik has already been interrogated multiple times by different investigation officers on all aspects that came to fore during the probe. He maintained his stance that the incident that took Benazir’s life occurred due to a security lapse and blamedthe ‘Musharraf-led administration’ for it.

The recent interview with the JIT comes in response to Musharraf’s fresh statements accusing Malik of the security lapse and of notproperlybriefing the former premier on risks to her life.

In his latest statements, Malik has again denied the allegations. Hereiteratedhis stance saying that he had held meetings with GeneralMusharraf besides writing him multiple letters for Benazir’s security. He added that Benazirwas aware of the risks involved, but insisted on going to Liaquatbagh despite the threats.

The former president, whiledenying the allegations told the investigation team that Benazir had violated security protocol by coming out of her vehicle, which led to her assassination.

Judicial Remand

A special judge of the Anti Terrorism Court, Chaudhry Habibur Rehman, sent Pervez Musharraf on a 14-day judicial remand on Tuesday.

Musharraf was to be produced before the court by the end of his four-day physical remand butthe FIA filed an application to the trial court requesting it to extend his remand in light of threats to his life.

During the hearing, Ali and other investigators also informed the court that the investigation in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case was over and the agency did not want the court to extend his physical remand.

Accepting the application the court sent Musharraf on a 14-day judicial remand. The court also directed the investigation team to produce the former president before the court on May 3.]]>
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			<title>Benazir murder case: ATC puts Musharraf on 14-day judicial remand</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/542476/pakistan-court-remands-musharraf-in-bhutto-murder</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/542476/pakistan-court-remands-musharraf-in-bhutto-murder#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 13 05:19:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Ex-president on 14-day judicial remand in Benazir murder case, he's already under house arrest for judges case.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf will spend Pakistan's general election day under lock and key after a court Tuesday extended his house arrest over the murder of Benazir Bhutto.

An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi put Musharraf on 14-day judicial remand over the death of the former prime minister, who was assassinated in a gun and bomb attack in 2007.

The retired general was already under a two-week house arrest order set to expire on May 4, over the sacking of judges when he imposed emergency rule in November 2007, and did not appear in court in person.

"The court granted a 14-day judicial remand and ordered that Musharraf be kept in a judicial lock-up until May 14," prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar told AFP.

The order was made to give investigators time to work on the case and the regular hearing is due to begin on May 3.

Musharraf is accused of conspiracy to murder two-time prime minister Bhutto, whose Pakistan People's Party (PPP) came to power in February 2008 on a wave of sympathy over her death.

It is the second of three cases, dating back to his 1999-2008 rule, for which Musharraf has been arrested since returning to Pakistan on March 24 after four years of self-imposed exile.

Musharraf is being held at his palatial house on the edge of Islamabad where his party complained that he has been confined to two rooms and stripped of his personal staff.

He also has been threatened with death by the Taliban.

Musharraf returned to Pakistan last month to stand in the May 11 general election, vowing to "save" the country from militancy and economic collapse but he was barred from running and will now spend polling day in his Islamabad villa, which has been designated as a jail.

Nobody has ever been convicted or jailed for Bhutto's assassination. Musharraf's government blamed the killing on Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who denied any involvement and was killed in a US drone attack in 2009.

But Bhutto's son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who is PPP chairman, has accused Musharraf of her murder.

In 2010 a UN report said Bhutto's death could have been prevented and accused Musharraf's government of failing to give her adequate protection.]]>
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			<title>Benazir assassination case: FIA to interrogate Rehman Malik</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/541928/benazir-assassination-case-fia-to-interrogate-rehman-malik</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/541928/benazir-assassination-case-fia-to-interrogate-rehman-malik#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 13 05:26:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[fawad.ali]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=541928</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Musharraf told investigators Malik was responsible for the security lapse.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Federal Investigation Agency will be interrogating former interior minister Rehman Malik in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case, The Express Tribune has learnt.

According to sources in the agency, the decision to include Malik – who was Benazir’s head of security when she was assassinated – in the investigation was taken after former president Pervez Musharraf told the Joint Investigation Team that the former interior minister was responsible for the Pakistan Peoples Party chairperson’s murder.

During his interrogation, Musharraf maintained two security plans had been chalked out for Benazir’s protection; one for external security and the other for internal security.

“Rehman Malik was responsible for Benazir Bhutto’s internal security… she was assassinated following a lapse in internal security,” an FIA source quoted the former president as saying. Musharraf repeatedly denied having any role in the PPP leader’s assassination, he added.

When contacted, Musharraf’s lawyer Salman Safdar confirmed his statement on the existence of an internal security plan under Rehman Malik’s supervision.

“Only Malik knew about the arrangements made for that plan,” he maintained.

“Why was there such a major breach of security? Only he can give an answer to that… Malik also needs to explain why he took control of the case when the JIT was already investigating it,” the lawyer added.

Safdar also defended Musharraf’s statement that he had no role in the assassination, saying security was in fact provided to the slain PPP leader.

“Around 1,371 security personnel had been deployed at the time to protect the public gathering and even the stage,” he maintained, adding that Benazir had been advised to leave the stage earlier than the scheduled time, avoid exposing herself and stay inside her vehicle since there was a genuine threat to her life. The lawyer said Benazir chose not to stick security plan and exposed herself to the attack by coming out of the vehicle’s sunroof.

He also questioned why only Musharraf was being investigated when Benazir had expressed similar suspicions against three other persons as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Benazir assassination case: JIT investigators grill Musharraf for three hours</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/541559/benazir-assassination-case-jit-investigators-grill-musharraf-for-three-hours</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/541559/benazir-assassination-case-jit-investigators-grill-musharraf-for-three-hours#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Apr 13 05:52:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[umer.nangiana]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=541559</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Former military ruler denies role in PPP chairperson’s murder.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Investigators grilled former military ruler Pervez Musharraf for nearly  three hours on Saturday for his alleged role in the assassination of two-time former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007.


Benazir was killed in a gun and suicide attack outside Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh on December 27, 2007. Gen (retd) Musharraf, who was in power back then, is blamed for not providing adequate security to the slain PPP chairperson.

On Saturday, a four-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) quizzed Musharraf at his plush farmhouse in Chak Shahzad, on the edge of the federal capital. The interrogation session focused on ‘unanswered questions’ and ‘missing links’ in the case. Musharraf, however, denied any role in Benazir’s murder. Reportedly, to most of the questions put to him, he gave a terse reply: ‘I’ve no knowledge’.

“Musharraf was asked about Benazir’s letters to the government seeking protection in the wake of threats to her life, but he denied having any knowledge,” said a source privy to the investigation. Musharraf was also reminded of US journalist Mark Segal’s earlier statement to investigators.

In the statement, Segal claimed that Benazir had received a phone call from Musharraf in his presence who asked her why she wanted to return to Pakistan before the 2008 elections. He warned her that it might have consequences. Benazir appeared a little disturbed following the call and told Segal that Musharraf would be responsible if she was harmed upon her return.

The former military ruler, however, denied making any such call, the source told The Express Tribune. Instead, he told the investigators that he had met Benazir in a ‘very cordial environment’ upon her return to the country.

Musharraf also maintained that providing security to Benazir was not the president’s responsibility. “It was the responsibility of the government, therefore the then prime minister would be better suited to answer this question,” the source quoted him as telling the investigators.

The JIT also questioned Musharraf about a high-level meeting he had chaired at his camp office in the Army House. In the meeting, then interior secretary Kamal Shah and heads of security agencies had reportedly informed Musharraf about Benazir’s request for security. Musharraf had allegedly said she would be provided security ‘in line with her relations with his government’. Musharraf, however, denied making such remarks.

He also denied giving orders to hose down the crime scene immediately after the assassination of Benazir, claiming that it was not his job to do so. The JIT, which comprises police and intelligence officials, will continue interrogating Musharraf until his physical remand expires.


Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Benazir Bhutto murder case: FIA gets Musharraf’s physical remand</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/541166/benazir-bhutto-murder-case-fia-gets-musharrafs-physical-remand</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/541166/benazir-bhutto-murder-case-fia-gets-musharrafs-physical-remand#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Apr 13 00:10:26 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[fawad.ali]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=541166</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Plea for judicial remand and change of investigation chief rejected.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[An Anti-Terrorism Court on Friday awarded four-day physical remand of former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case.


During the proceedings, FIA lawyer Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali asked ATC-I Special Judge Chaudhry Habibur Rahman for Musharraf’s physical remand so that he could be questioned in regard to former premier Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.

Musharraf’s lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar requested the court to award the former president judicial remand. The FIA prosecutor objected to this, saying that Musharraf has been declared a proclaimed offender and should be physically remanded.

Safdar also demanded the court change the head of the joint investigation team, Khalid Qureshi. He alleged that Qureshi was not an impartial investigator because he once briefed the Sindh Assembly in the Benazir Bhutto murder case despite not being authorised to do so. The court, however, rejected Safdar’s request.

After hearing both sides, the ATC awarded a four-day physical remand to the FIA and asked the agency to produce the former president before the court.

Later, while talking to the media, the FIA lawyer said that the agency was interrogating Musharraf on the basis of documentary proof, Mark Seagle’s statement and other available evidence.

“If security could be provided to former premier Shaukat Aziz and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain then why not to Benazir Bhutto? This shows Musharraf’s involvement [in the assassination case],” Ali said.

However, he added that given security threats, the former president will be interrogated at his Chak Shehzad residence, which has been declared a sub-jail.

Musharraf was formally arrested by the FIA on Thursday after the court directed investigators to include him in the probe into the 2007 assassination.

The FIA joint investigation team also recorded Musharraf’s statement last night.

Musharraf was driven in a motorcade from his residence to the ATC where over 500 Rangers personnel and hundreds of policemen were deployed.

Lawyers were peaceful and remained calm and none of them chanted slogans against the former dictator throughout the process.

“We did this to give a soft image of the legal community to the people. Some elements are denting the image of lawyers, which is unjust,” the District Bar Association president said. However, the police barred junior lawyers from entering the court premises.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Benazir murder case: ATC awards 4-day physical remand of Musharraf</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/540820/atc-awards-5-day-physical-remand-of-musharraf-to-fia</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/540820/atc-awards-5-day-physical-remand-of-musharraf-to-fia#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Apr 13 05:32:06 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=540820</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Ex-president will stay at his Chak Shahzad Farmhouse.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) Rawalpindi special judge Chahudhry Habibur Rehman permitted a four-day physical remand of former president Pervez Musharraf in reference to the Benazir Bhutto murder case to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Express News reported on Friday.

The team of investigators of FIA will interrogate Musharraf while he stays at his Chak Shahzad Farmhouse during the time period of the remand.

The retired general appeared in court in Rawalpindi for his remand hearing under tight security. He is accused of conspiracy to murder former prime minister Bhutto, who died in a gun and suicide attack in December 2007.

It is the second of three cases dating back to his 1999-2008 rule for which Musharraf has been arrested since returning to Pakistan on March 24 after four years of self-imposed exile, promising to contest elections.

"We requested a three-day remand of retired general Pervez Musharraf and judge Chaudhry Habib-ur Rehman gave a three-day remand and adjourned the case until Monday," prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar told AFP.

Musharraf is being held at his plush villa on the edge of Islamabad where his party complained that he has been confined to two rooms and stripped of his personal staff.

The trial court on Thursday gave FIA permission to formally arrest the former president for interrogation turning down his request to alter the joint investigation team.

Musharraf is already serving a 14-day judicial remand in Judge’s detention case and has been asked to again appear in the ATC on April 30 for Benazir murder case.

He is also barred from running in next month's general election on May 11 and has been threatened with death by the Taliban.]]>
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			<title>Benazir murder case: FIA formally arrests Musharraf</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/540419/benazir-murder-case-court-issues-musharrafs-arrest-order</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/540419/benazir-murder-case-court-issues-musharrafs-arrest-order#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 13 09:14:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=540419</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[FIA records Musharraf's statement at his farmhouse.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) formally arrested former president Pervez Musharraf in relation to the Benazir Bhutto murder case on Thursday, reported Express News.

FIA's joint investigation team recorded Musharraf’s statement at his farmhouse in Chak Shahzad, which is currently serving as a sub-jail for the ex-president in the judges arrest case.

In his statement, Musharraf denied involvement in the Bhutto murder case and said that he was being falsely implicated.

The FIA held an emergency meeting in which it unanimously decided that his statement was not satisfactory and ordered his arrest.

The ex-president will appear in an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi tomorrow.

Earlier during the day, the ATC issued orders for Musharraf's arrest in the case and granted permission to the FIA to investigate him.

On April 17, the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench had granted Musharraf pre-arrest interim bail in the murder case till April 24 against two surety bonds of Rs 5 million each.

Musharraf is accused of conspiracy to murder Bhutto, who died in a gun and suicide attack in December 2007. It is one of three cases he is fighting in the courts since returning home last month after four years in self-imposed exile.

His arrest and disqualification from contesting elections on May 11 have been a humiliating blow for the former ruler of nuclear-armed Pakistan, previously a key ally of US president George W Bush in the war on terror.]]>
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			<title>Benazir Bhutto assassination: Musharraf ’s bail extension plea rejected</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/540309/benazir-bhutto-assassination-musharraf-s-bail-extension-plea-rejected</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/540309/benazir-bhutto-assassination-musharraf-s-bail-extension-plea-rejected#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 13 04:35:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[fawad.ali]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=540309</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[FIA prosecutor says former president could be arrested any time now.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A divisional bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday dismissed the plea for an extension in the pre-arrest interim bail of former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf in the Benazir Bhutto murder case.


The two-member Rawalpindi bench, comprising Justice Sardar Abdul Sami Khan and Justice Khawaja Imtiaz Ahmed discharged the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) chief’s application after Musharraf’s counsel Barrister Salman Safdar did not appear before the court.

Meanwhile, the court also disposed of another plea of Musharraf’s in which he sought exemption from appearing in the court owing to security reasons.

In a counter argument, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali objected to the request of Musharraf’s counsel arguing that the accused was already under detention and on judicial remand at his Chak Shahzad farm house, which was declared as a sub-jail after the cancellation of his bail in the judges’ detention case.

The bench took notice of the absence of Barrister Safdar, and ordered the junior lawyers including Afshan Adil, who appeared on behalf of Musharraf, to ask their senior to show up before the court for arguments within an hour.

When Barrister Safdar did not show up before the court despite the passage of the deadline, the bench dismissed the plea.

The FIA prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali, while talking to reporters, said that following the cancellation of the bail plea, FIA could arrest him any time in this case.

On April 17, the LHC Rawalpindi bench had granted General (retd) Pervez Musharraf pre-arrest interim bail in the Benazir Bhutto murder case till April 24 against two surety bonds of Rs 5 million each.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Directives to FIA: ATC orders Musharraf be probed in Benazir case</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/539705/directives-to-fia-atc-orders-musharraf-be-probed-in-benazir-case</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/539705/directives-to-fia-atc-orders-musharraf-be-probed-in-benazir-case#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 13 04:44:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[fawad.ali]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=539705</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Grants permission to meet his lawyers; APML workers, lawyers clash outside court.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi on Tuesday directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to include General (retd) Pervez Musharraf in its investigation into Benazir Bhutto’s murder and granted his request to meet his lawyers.


The former president, who appeared before the ATC for the first time, rose from his seat to show respect to the judge when he entered the courtroom.

Earlier in the day, FIA’s Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali had obtained an order to present Musharraf before the court from the judge and the Rawalpindi police was directed to present him in court. He obtained the order after a rift developed between Islamabad and Rawalpindi police on who would transport Musharraf from his Chak Shahzad farmhouse, now a sub-jail, to ATC-1.

At the start of the proceedings, Ali informed ATC-1 Special Judge Chaudhry Habibur Rehman that the agency formally arrested Musharraf, who is accused of conspiracy to murder former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

The FIA prosecutor told Rehman that the former president did not appear before the agency’s investigators after obtaining pre-arrest interim bail from the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench on April 17.

However, the retired general’s counsel, Advocate Salman Safdar, said his client was unable to appear before the FIA, because he was placed under house arrest in the judges’ sacking case.

Safdar also filed three appeals requesting the court to unfreeze Musharraf’s assets and bank accounts, repeal the decision to declare him a proclaimed offender and to allow his lawyers to meet him, the third of which was granted.

The court also admitted his appeal to unfreeze the assets and bank accounts and issued a notice to the FIA in this regard.

Regarding the court’s decision to declare Musharraf a proclaimed offender, Safdar asked the court to withdraw it, saying he had surrendered himself. However, the ATC decided to discuss the matter at the next hearing.

The prosecutor and the FIA were asked to complete their investigation against the ex-general and submit a challan at the next hearing on May 3.

Lawyers, APML supporters clash outside court

Outside the court premises, dozens of lawyers and supporters of the ex-president clashed, leaving several injured.

The clashes began after an All Pakistan Muslim League activist pushed a lawyer.

A heavy police and paramilitary troop presence failed to break up the clashes between the APML activists and anti-Musharraf lawyers.

Musharraf’s supporters were armed with sticks and pelted the lawyers with stones. The lawyers retaliated in kind.

Clashes between the police and APML workers were also triggered when an activist slapped a police officer. Police baton-charged and arrested some of them.

Some of the lawyers also abused journalists at the scene, accusing them of supporting Musharraf’s sympathisers. They also vandalised a vehicle carrying banners of the APML chief.

Members of the legal fraternity also attacked some passersby after mistaking them for Musharraf’s supporters. The police only intervened at the end when APML workers dispersed.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Benazir murder case: Rawalpindi court allows Musharraf to meet his lawyers</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/539367/benazir-murder-case-rawalpindi-court-allows-musharraf-to-meet-his-lawyers</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/539367/benazir-murder-case-rawalpindi-court-allows-musharraf-to-meet-his-lawyers#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Apr 13 06:04:36 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=539367</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Musharraf objects to being declared wanted by the authorities.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[An anti terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi granted former president Pervez Musharraf's request to meet his lawyers, Express News reported on Tuesday.

Musharraf appeared before the court in relation to the Benazir Bhutto murder case and made three requests including the request to unfreeze his assets and bank accounts.

During the hearing, the court granted him the permission to meet his lawyers and also allowed him a 15-minute meeting with his lawyers inside the court premises.

Further, the court admitted the former president’s request regarding unfreezing of his assets and bank accounts for hearing. It also issued a notice to the FIA in this regard.

Musharraf also objected to being declared wanted by the authorities and the ATC decided to discuss the matter in the next hearing. Musharraf argued that since he had surrendered, he should not be declared "wanted."

The prosecutor and the FIA were asked to complete their investigation against the ex-general and submit a challan by the next hearing on May 3.

Musharraf was driven to the court in Rawalpindi, the headquarters of the army he once led, from his plush villa on the edge of Islamabad where he is serving a two-week arrest order for other charges dating back to his 1999-2008 rule.

Musharraf is accused of conspiracy to murder Bhutto, who died in a gun and suicide attack in December 2007. It is one of three cases he is fighting in the courts since returning home last month after four years in self-imposed exile.

His arrest and disqualification from contesting elections on May 11 have been a humiliating blow for the former ruler of nuclear-armed Pakistan, previously a key ally of US president George W. Bush in the war on terror.]]>
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			<title>Benazir murder case: Court grants interim bail to Musharraf</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/536675/benazir-murder-case-court-grants-interim-bail-to-musharraf</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/536675/benazir-murder-case-court-grants-interim-bail-to-musharraf#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 13 09:50:29 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=536675</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Bail, valid till April 24, was granted against two surety bonds of Rs0.5 million each.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench granted interim bail to former president Pervez Musharraf in Benazir Bhutto murder case, Express News reported on Wednesday.

The bail, valid till April 24, was granted against two surety bonds of Rs0.5 million each.

During today’s hearing, a notice was also issued to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team.

The court had ordered Musharraf to come in person around 2pm to seek bail.

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) had earlier rejected FIA’s application, seeking separation of Musharraf’s trial from other accused tried in the Benazir murder case.

The court had decided to start fresh proceedings into the case following Musharraf’s return, as he had been declared a proclaimed offender in 2011.]]>
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			<title>Musharraf's return: Court to hear Benazir murder case afresh</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/529499/musharrafs-return-court-to-hear-benazir-murder-case-afresh</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/529499/musharrafs-return-court-to-hear-benazir-murder-case-afresh#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Apr 13 08:32:41 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=529499</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Musharraf to be charged again. Around 25 witnesses will record their statements.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[An anti-terrorism court has decided to hear Benazir Bhutto murder case afresh as prime suspect former president Pervez Musharraf has returned to Pakistan, Express News reported on Monday.

Around 25 witnesses had recorded their statements for the case, however, their statements will now be recorded again.

Musharraf, along with other suspects, will be charged again in the murder case.

Earlier, the former president had his pre-arrest bail approved by Sindh High Court. He was granted a 10 day bail period, which was later extended.

Benazir was killed after an election rally in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007.

In 2010, a UN report said the murder could have been prevented and accused Musharraf’s government of failing to provide Bhutto with adequate protection.]]>
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			<title>Benazir Murder Case: ATC told to hold daily hearing</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/507141/benazir-murder-case-atc-told-to-hold-daily-hearing</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/507141/benazir-murder-case-atc-told-to-hold-daily-hearing#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 14 Feb 13 05:29:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=507141</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Justice Mazhar Ali Akhbar Naqvi, Justice Ali Baqir Najafi of the LHC’s Rawalpindi bench issued these directives.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Lahore High Court’s (LHC) Rawalpindi bench on Wednesday directed the trial court in Benazir Bhutto’s murder case to conduct hearings daily in the long pending case and conclude the trial within three months.


Justice Mazhar Ali Akhbar Naqvi and Justice Ali Baqir Najafi of the LHC’s Rawalpindi bench issued these directives while disposing of the petition submitted by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) seeking swift completion of the trial which has been pending for the last
six years.

Special Public Prosecutor FIA Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali approached the high court requesting that the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) carry out day to day hearings in the case, due to the defence counsel obtaining undue adjournments.

Arguing his case before the high court, Ali contended that under the ATA the trial judge was directed not to allow two consecutive adjournments and if the defence lawyers did not appear in the court the judge could appoint a state counsel for the accused.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2013.]]>
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			</item><item>
			<title>BB murder case: Court orders ATC to investigate</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/506701/bb-murder-case-court-orders-atc-to-investigate</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/506701/bb-murder-case-court-orders-atc-to-investigate#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 13 Feb 13 08:39:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=506701</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[FIA submitted the petition, court accepted it and asked Anti-terrorism court to take immediate action.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Rawalpindi High Court division bench has ordered that the hearing of Benazir Bhutto murder case start from February 19 on daily basis, Express News reported.


The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) submitted the petition regarding hearing of the Benazir Bhutto murder case to Rawalpindi High Court, asking the local Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) to take immediate action.

The ATC was asked to decide the case within three months. Lawyers of the accused were also been ordered to take this hearing as top priority.

The five accused, namely Aitzaz Sherazi, Abdul Rasheed Turabi, Sher Zaman, Rafaqat Hussain and Hassnain Gul have been detained in Adiala Jail over charges of involvement in the suicide attack that killed the former prime minister in 2007.

The Rawalpindi court expressed their anger on the slow moving case and mentioned that despite six years of constant hearings, justice had not prevailed.

Earlier on January 5, a Rawalpindi court had previously rejected a request for daily hearings on the case to speed up the judicial process. But now the Rawalpindi High court has directed the ATC to take this case on an urgent priority basis.

Benazir was assassinated in a deadly terrorist attack in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007 after addressing a political rally.]]>
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			</item><item>
			<title>Benazir’s assassination case: Witness says crime scene hosed down on SP orders</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/496450/benazir%e2%80%99s-assassination-case-witness-says-crime-scene-hosed-down-on-sp-orders</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/496450/benazir%e2%80%99s-assassination-case-witness-says-crime-scene-hosed-down-on-sp-orders#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jan 13 06:03:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[mudassir.raja]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=496450</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rescue officer says SP Khurram Shahzad asked him to wash the crime scene, saying enough evidence had been collected.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The head of Rawalpindi’s emergency services reiterated on Saturday that his staff was asked by a senior police officer to hose down the site of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination on December 27, 2007.


The district emergency officer Rescue 1122, Dr Abdul Rehman, testified before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) that Khurram Shahzad, the superintendent of police Rawal Town, had asked him to get washed the crime scene outside Liaquat Bagh as enough incriminating material had been collected by investigators.

Dr Rehman, whose staff reached the crime scene within seven minutes of the gun and bomb attack, said that fire crew of Rescue 1122 hosed down the site on the instruction of Khurram Shahzad.

Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali, Special Public Prosecutor of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), told The Express Tribune that Rehman’s statement was endorsed by Ghulam Muhammad Naz, the assistant fire officer, Rawal Town Municipal Administration.



Quoting the witness, the prosecutor said he reached the blast site in five minutes and was directed by the SP to wash the crime scene after an hour of the incident.

Special Judge ATC-I Chaudhry Habibur Rehman put off the hearing till January 22, for the statement of Dr Musadaq Khan, former principal of the Rawalpindi Medical College, who had attended Benazir Bhutto when she was taken to the hospital after the attack.

The investigations carried out by Scotland Yard, United Nations and FIA had raised serious question about immediate washing of the crime scene and likely loss of important evidence.

Meanwhile, Khurram Shahzad, in his statement to the investigators, had maintained that the police asked for hosing down the site only after collecting necessary evidence.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20th, 2013. ]]>
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			<title>Benazir murder case: Mark Siegel baulks at testifying in person</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/490792/benazir-murder-case-mark-siegel-baulks-at-testifying-in-person</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/490792/benazir-murder-case-mark-siegel-baulks-at-testifying-in-person#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jan 13 05:29:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[obaid.abbasi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=490792</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[US journalist cites ‘security concerns’; requests video link to record his statement against Musharraf.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[American Journalist Mark Siegel, who is a key witness in the Benazir Bhutto murder case, has refused to come to Pakistan to record his statement before an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) citing security concerns.  


An ATC on January 6 had directed Siegel, who was also a close friend and the speech writer of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, to appear in person before the court as a prosecution witness against former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

According to an earlier statement of Siegel, which he had recorded before a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) under Section 161, Musharraf had threatened Benazir with “dire consequences” if she returned home before the 2008 elections.

Siegelalleged that Musharraf knew of the assassination plot and had personally ordered the destruction of evidence in the case.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali on Monday informed ATC Special Judge Chaudhry Habibur Rehman that due to “security reasons” Siegel was reluctant to come to Pakistan to record his statement. “After receiving the court summons, he expressed security concerns and is reluctant to appear in person before the court. He prefers to record his statement via a video link,” said Zulfiqar.



However, Siegel did not specify what kind of threats he was anticipating if he appeared in person. The FIA prosecutor informed the court that Siegel expressed concern and said that in the current circumstances it is not possible to come to Pakistan to record his statement.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor submitted an application before the ATC under Article 164 of Qanoon-i-Shahadat 1984 (Evidence Law) seeking to record his statement through video links.

In his application, Zulfiqar maintained that since Siegel had now refused to come to Pakistan, he requested the court to record his statement through video link.

“There is a precedent in history [Mansoor Ejaz],” he said.

“Siegel is an important witness and it is essential to record his statement. If any witness refuses to come physically before the court, the practice of video link could be adopted in order to speed up the investigation,” he argued.

The court admitted his application and issued notices to respondents for January 18.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2013.]]>
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			</item><item>
			<title>Benazir murder case: Court rejects request for daily hearings</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/489435/benazir-murder-case-court-rejects-request-for-daily-hearings</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/489435/benazir-murder-case-court-rejects-request-for-daily-hearings#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 05 Jan 13 08:39:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=489435</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The request, filed by the prosecutor, was submitted against the slow progress of the case.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A Rawalpindi court rejected a request for daily hearing of Benazir Bhutto murder case, Express News reported on Saturday.

The request, filed by the prosecutor, was submitted against the slow progress of the case.

Recently in the murder case, the Pakistan government asked Interpol to issue red warrant for Former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, who was declared prime suspect in the case.

The official, who is dealing with Benazir Bhutto’s assassination case, had revealed that Musharraf requested Interpol to dismiss the request and treat his case as a matter of “political and military character”.

Benazir was shot dead in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007 after a Pakistan Peoples Party rally in the city.]]>
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			<title>Benazir Bhutto’s assassination: President stops Malik from revealing BB murder report</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/486172/benazir-bhutto%e2%80%99s-assassination-president-stops-malik-from-revealing-bb-murder-report</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/486172/benazir-bhutto%e2%80%99s-assassination-president-stops-malik-from-revealing-bb-murder-report#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 29 Dec 12 05:34:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[adil.jawad]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=486172</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Sources say interior minister wanted to present the report before PPP’s CEC.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Differences between President Asif Ali Zardari and Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik seem to have increased after the former stopped the latter from revealing the Benazir Bhutto assassination investigation report before the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Central Executive Committee (CEC).


Daily Express has learnt the president issued the instructions to Malik just hours before the commemorative PPP rally at Garhi Khuda Bux on Benazir’s fifth death anniversary. The interior minister had earlier announced intentions to reveal the report at the occasion.

According to sources, Malik wanted to present the investigation report at the CEC meeting held on Benazir’s fifth death anniversary. He suggested PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari begin his political career by revealing the report, they added.

Towards this end, Malik had been in Karachi over the past few days, meeting with the FIA team investigating Benazir’s assassination and other senior agency officials, along with personally overseeing the publication of the several hundred-page report. The interior minister had planned to distribute copies of the report among committee members and journalists at the CEC meeting.

President Zardari, however, rejected Malik’s suggestions. According to the sources, he directed the minister against presenting the report mere hours before the rally in Garhi Khuda Bux on Thursday.

They added that upon receiving the instructions, Malik directed officials concerned to stop the report’s publication, which had been in its final stages at the time.

It should be noted that the interior minister had earlier presented the report before the Sindh Assembly. Most of the report details have been reported by the media.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29th, 2012. ]]>
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			<title>Benazir Bhutto death anniversary: ‘We won’t take revenge, history will’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/485276/5th-death-anniversary-remembering-benazir</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/485276/5th-death-anniversary-remembering-benazir#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 27 Dec 12 12:00:05 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Ema Anis]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=485276</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[President Asif Ali Zardari and his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari give speeches at Garhi Khuda Bukhsh.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Slain former premier Benazir Bhutto’s fifth death anniversary was observed across the country on Thursday.

The Muslim world's first female prime minister, Benazir, was assassinated in a bombing on 27 December, 2007 at the end of a rally in Rawalpindi.

A large public gathering was organised at Garhi Khuda Bux where President Asif Ali Zardari and his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari gave speeches. Bilawal formally began his political career with his speech.

Zardari assured that free and fair elections will be held in the country, while Bilawal criticised the judiciary for not bringing his mother's killers to justice.

In other places across the country, people held vigils to pay tribute to Benazir.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

                                                                           END OF LIVE UPDATES 

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5:38pm

Zardari ends speech with his “Pakistan Khappay” slogan.

“We won’t take revenge, history will,” he says.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5:23pm

President Zardari stresses that bravery is in tolerance and not in tyranny. “We do politics but we never did and will never let anyone else oppress the people.”

The president assures that free and fair elections will be held in the country. “We appointed an independent election commissioner for this purpose and passed the law for a care-taker set-up.”

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5:10pm

Bilawal’s speech comes to an end.

He says that the PPP will never let any dictator snatch away rights of the people, and his party is not afraid of any terrorists.

“PPP is not just a political party. This is our life,” says.

Bilawal chants slogans with the people gathered at the venue stressing that his mother, Benazir Bhutto, is still alive while her murderers are ashamed of themselves.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5:03pm

Bilawal targets the judiciary, questioning how the judges have time to initiate cases on prices of petty things and other ‘small issues’, but do not have time to provide justice. “Many Pakistanis, like myself, are still waiting to find justice for their loved ones.”

“When you do not have time to bring the murderers of my mother to justice – who are already arrested – then where did you get the time to have a trial of her grave?” he questioned.

He alleged that the certain elements in the society are trying to dismantle democracy by playing up institutions against each other.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4:58pm

Bilawal stresses that negativity will lead the country towards destruction and positive thinking is direly needed.

He says his government is aware of all the problems the country is currently going through. Speaking about Balochistan, Bilawal says that the government has taken historical steps for the province to ensure a better future. “Now the people of Balochistan will be able to use their own resources.”

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4:46pm

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari takes the stage at Garhi Khuda Bukhsh.

Bilawal says there are two types of people in Pakistan – those who are on the path of the truth and are willing to give up their lives for democracy, and those who are liars and snatch away others’ rights to save their own lives.

“We are the ones who brought democracy and we will save it too,” he stressed.


A screenshot shows Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressing the gathering at Garhi Khuda Bukhsh on Thursday.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4:30pm

Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani told the people present at Garhi Khuda Buksh that even though Benazir Bhutto is not present amongst us, her vision and ideals will stay with us forever.

Praising his party for its current reign, Gilani said the PPP is a symbol of federation.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4:10pm

While addressing the people gathered at Garhi Khuda Buksh, Qaim Ali Shah said no party has as dedicated members as the PPP.


An INP photo shows civil society activists lighting candles during a vigil to commemorate the death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto and pay tribute to Bashir Ahmed Bilour in Lahore.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4:05pm

There are just a few hundred volunteers of the Pakistan Peoples Party here today at Garhi Khuda Bux for the death anniversary commemorations of Benazir Bhutto.

Arrangements 

About 6,000 police and rangers have been deployed around the 38-acre spread of the ground and Bhutto mausoleum. The police mobiles are being used to distribute food to the people who have shown up for the historic day. Otherwise the arrangements are poor for visitors. Even guests look lost as no guides or ushers have been stationed here. Reception camps are usually set up from Hyderabad to Garhi Khuda Bux for these occasions but not this December 27.

We saw the first reception camp at Dhamrah, a small town some 15km from Garhi Khuda Bux. Buses and coasters for party workers also showed up, but their local leadership wasn’t leading them. Most of the ‘leaders’ came with protocol; the less affluent ones in Corollas, Coures, Mehrans.

From Bhutto 'culture' to Zardari 'feel' 

People are talking about how it feels like this year the Bhutto ‘culture’ has been supplanted by a distinct ‘Zardari’ feel. One small gauge of this are the banners which have five images – of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir, Zardari, Bilawal and Faryal - two Bhuttos and three Zardaris. Also, very tellingly, the name of Owais Muzaffar aka Tappi, who is believed to be close to Zardari, has sprung up on hundreds of banners and billboards from Karachi’s Mai Kolachi Road to Garhi Khuda Bux. They state that he has sponsored them but his image is not part of the poster.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3:1o pm

Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, while speaking to media, said people who believe in the vision of Benazir are present at Garhi Khuda Buksh.

He said the PPP believes in democracy and will continue on “this journey for prosperity and development of the country”.

He further said that the annual visit to the mausoleum signifies that the sacrifices of the Bhutto family are not forgotten and that the people will take their mission forward.

Bilawal 

Ashraf expressed confidence in Bilawal’s leadership and said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will prosper under him.

“Bilawal is the heir of ZA Bhutto's political philosophy,” said the PM. “This journey will continue. Bilawal has the bravery of his grandfather and mother. He has the sabar [patience] and courage of his father.”

Bilawal started his political career when he was born into the Bhutto family, added the PM. “BB is in his blood. He has vision. He is educated. He has a strong sense of understanding.”

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

1:00pm

PPP Chairman and Benazir’s son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will officially launch into the political sphere today through a public address at Garhi Khuda Buksh.

President Asif Ali Zardari, MNA Faryal Talpur, Bilawal, Asifa and Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari have already reached Garhi Khuda Buksh.

Political leaders are coming to the town to visit Benazir’s grave and offer prayers.

Main ceremonies are expected to begin from 2pm onwards.]]>
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			<title>Benazir Bhutto remembered</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/484988/benazir-bhutto-remembered</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/484988/benazir-bhutto-remembered#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 27 Dec 12 05:48:47 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[farahnaz.ispahani]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=484988</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[We must remember her indefatigable energy, her step-by-step, day-by-day work together to reclaim Pakistan.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Today is the fifth death anniversary of Pakistan’s iconic leader, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. History remembers her as the first elected woman prime minister of a Muslim majority country. For millions of Pakistanis she was the embodiment of their hopes for a democratic, pluralist country and the desire to be free of the scourge of extremism and terrorism. She led and kept the PPP alive against many odds during and after the dark years of the obscurantist dictatorship of General Ziaul Haq.

Benazir Bhutto touched the lives of many Pakistanis by confronting military dictatorship in opposition and through her programmes to address the issues of the poorest and most marginalised during her two short stints in office. She was seen as a threat by those who saw her vision for Pakistan as a challenge to their militarised intrigues. For that reason alone she was hounded during her life and killed by the bigots who have hijacked our beloved country.

Bibi Shaheed firmly believed that women and those who followed other religions were equal Pakistanis in every way. She lived by her convictions and was killed for them. Her vision for Pakistan is summarised in her final book, fittingly titled Reconciliation. Bibi also left the PPP a Manifesto that she had personally worked on and read and reread countless times.

It is hard to forget the day of her assassination, the scenes at the hospital, that endless night carrying Bibi’s coffin in the C-130 with her young children and closest friends and aides on board. The long, terrible drive through the dark, sleeping villages of Sindh, driving behind the ambulance which carried our beloved Bibi home are seared in my memory. Buried next to her father at Garhi Khuda Baksh and close to her two brothers Mir Murtaza and Shahnawaz, Benazir Bhutto was like them, martyred by those who loved power more than Pakistan.

Many of us believed that Bibi Shaheed’s sacrifice of her life would bring change to Pakistan. The country was paralysed and even those who had been her fiercest political opponents during her lifetime grieved for her and her family. There was grief around the world. World leaders who had known Ms Bhutto personally either in her capacity as prime minister or as the leader of the opposition or from her exile years mourned. As did many citizens of countries near and far. In the years since her assassination, many of us have run into countless working people in many countries who express their grief over Bibi’s death the moment they find out that we are from Pakistan.

Today, on the fifth anniversary of her death, we have to ask ourselves whether we understood her ultimate sacrifice. Have the over-reaching powers of the establishment that consistently plotted against her democratic values been curbed? Has democracy and its roots been strengthened? Have the lives of Pakistan’s citizens improved materially and socially or at least been put on the path to improvement? Are Muslims of different denominations and our non-Muslim minorities safer today?

Several excellent laws have been passed by parliament. The visible improvement of Pakistan-India ties are to be celebrated. The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) — initially conceived by Mohtarma Bhutto herself along with economist Kaisar Bengali — is an extremely successful initiative with many new components. But much still has to be done and many of her ideas are still unfulfilled.

Pakistan remains in the grip of militarism and militancy. The superior courts have failed to expand access to justice, involving themselves in political issues instead. The democratic process continues to be undermined by invisible intrigues and many important issues end up being neglected. The establishment continues to think of ways around the Constitution instead of allowing the country to be run according to its principles. Instead of mourning what we have lost, we must use this occasion for self-reflection. We must remember her indefatigable energy, her love for her homeland, her endless patience and her step-by-step, day-by-day work together to reclaim Pakistan.

We owe Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto no less.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27th, 2012.]]>
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				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/484988-FarahnazIspahaniNew-1356559178/484988-FarahnazIspahaniNew-1356559178.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
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			<title>Mohtarma’s legacy: to never give up</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/484985/mohtarma%e2%80%99s-legacy-to-never-give-up</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/484985/mohtarma%e2%80%99s-legacy-to-never-give-up#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 27 Dec 12 05:43:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[raza.rumi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=484985</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[BB’s sacrifice on December 27, 2007 will live on as tale of bravery inspiring struggles against extremism and...]]>
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				<![CDATA[Five years ago, the forces that our state had nurtured for long killed the brightest of our politicians. Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto sounds heavy as a title but there can be no better phrase to signify her stature and the immensity of her sacrifice. The recent judgment by the Supreme Court has vindicated BB’s stance that through the 1990s, the civil-military bureaucratic complex conspired to defeat and keep her out of politics. History has proved her right and even a Supreme Court not known for its tilt towards the PPP had no choice but to decide on facts.

When BB entered active politics, her detractors were far too many. From the powerful establishment to the right-wing media and her ‘uncles’ (older party stalwarts), everyone predicted that she would fail and the PPP would disintegrate. She proved everyone wrong and demonstrated in her 20s her tenacity and capability to resist Pakistan’s most insidious and brutal dictatorship. By the time she returned to Pakistan in 1986, her stature was almost iconic. However, the decade that followed pitted her against a restructured Pakistan where political engineering especially in Punjab made her play the power game to stay relevant as well to guard against the wily games of her adversaries.

Of course, she made mistakes as prime minister and perhaps, as a politician, too. But she never gave up on her core principles of a democratic, federal and enlightened Pakistan. Today, Pakistan’s best social sector service delivery architecture, comprising 100,000 lady health workers, was her brainchild. She launched the anti-Polio campaign and by the end of the 1990s, we had almost eradicated the virus. These are not minor achievements in a country where the people’s welfare has seldom been on the agenda. Her legacy lives on in the shape of Asia’s largest social protection programme — the Benazir Income Support Programme — which provides cash assistance to poorest seven million households in the country.

All political parties including that of Nawaz Sharif, who earlier labelled BB as a ‘security risk’, have espoused Benazir’s vision for a revised security doctrine. The elements of the deep state have not roadblocked the current government to open up trade with India and relax the stringent visa regime. BB reset the policy vision for Pakistan and in the process also reversed her father’s national security doctrines, which still inform the hardliners in the military establishment.

BB did pay a heavy price for her engagement in politics though. For decades she was relentlessly defamed. Her character was attacked and she was even ridiculed to be a mother or expect a child while in office. Later, the favourite stick of the right-wing — corruption — was used against her to tarnish her image as a politician. Add to this, stories of her sell-out to India and the United States while the military managed the foreign policy, the nuclear programme and regional adventurism. He close aide during 1993-96 tenure, Zafar Hilaly, in a series published in The Friday Times (December 5-11, 2008), has recounted how marginalised she was in setting the Afghanistan policy. Despite her flexibility to work with the junta, she was thrown out of power in 1996 and soon found herself in exile thereafter.

The years in exile, 1997-2007, comprised political isolation and opprobrium at home. But her constituents — millions of poor and the dispossessed — knew what it was all about. It was the tale that their lives were made of: the powerful versus the powerless. Her return to Pakistan in 2007 demolished years of propaganda once again when she was received by hundreds of thousands. This was a different BB: not too willing to compromise on the basics so her stance on extremism was bold and determined. The junta did not want her to be present in the country when the elections took place. So, the terrorists gave her a clear message on her return as her procession was bombed and hundreds of innocent PPP workers died in the mayhem. She did not relent and almost marched towards death.

The seasoned BB, marking 30 years of active politics, in 2007 had also ensured a consensus via the Charter of Democracy with Nawaz Sharif. This is perhaps the most formidable of BB’s legacy. Her party’s government is completing the term and the Opposition led by Sharifs has refused to scuttle the process by involving military unlike the 1990s.

Today, Pakistan is a poorer place. It has lost the clearest and most popular voice against extremism. Sadly, the protracted process of bringing her killers to justice only indicates how difficult it is to nab the powerful backers of extremists who reside in the most protected enclaves within the state itself. It will only happen with civilian ascendancy and undoing decades of unaccountable rule by a few unelected institutions.

BB’s sacrifice on December 27, 2007 will live on as a tale of bravery inspiring struggles against extremism and bigotry. And, not giving up despite the odds.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Politics of reconciliation:  PPP has strengthened Pakistan, says Kaira</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/485133/politics-of-reconciliation-ppp-has-strengthened-pakistan-says-kaira</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/485133/politics-of-reconciliation-ppp-has-strengthened-pakistan-says-kaira#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 27 Dec 12 05:35:37 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=485133</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says party always got reins of power when the country was at the brink of disaster.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Country’s reins were always handed over to the PPP after thorough loot and plunder and when it was at the brink of disaster, said Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, while addressing media in Sukkur on Wednesday.


“PPP has strengthened Pakistan,” Kaira said.

PPP following the politics of reconciliation stemmed the political and economic crises facing the country, he said.

People were talking about a possible Taliban attack on Islamabad, when PPP took over the country in 2008.

However, PPP got all the political parties together and helped pull the country out of the dangers of Talibanisation by creating a national consensus against militancy and terrorism.

He said that apart from the Taliban threat the PPP has succeeded in closing the chapter of coups.



“Today we are proud that democracy has taken roots in the country after being repeatedly sabotaged by dictators,” Kaira said.

On the debut of the political career of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, he said, large number of people from across the country will reach Garhi Khuda Bux to pay homage to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will start his political career by addressing a mammoth gathering in Garhi Khuda Bux tomorrow, Kaira said.

Bilawal, like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his daughter, will enter politics at a young age. Bilawal is not going to contest election, but if he wants, he can win from anywhere, the entire country is his constituency, the information minister said.

Regarding Bilawal not being well versed in the local issues, Kaira said, when Benazir Bhutto entered politics everybody used to criticise her for the same reason. Her detracters used to say that Benazir cannot even speak Urdu. Similarly, he said, people will criticise Bilawal also, but he too will prove his worth in politics, the information minister said.

Without any compulsion or force people are thronging Garhi Khuda Bux only for their eternal love for Bhuttos, Kaira said.

“Today our opponents are saying that PPP has done nothing for the people, then how will its leaders go to the people to seek vote,” he said asserting that PPP has tried to address core issues like availability of staple grain.

He reminded that during the previous regime there were recurrent wheat and sugar crises, people used to stand in long queues to buy wheat flour, “now due to revolutionary economic policies we are exporting wheat and sugar.”

He pointed out the biased views and prejudiced opinions held against President Zardari. The Supreme Court of Pakistan allowed former President Musharraf to be a contestant in presidential election while being a serving army officer, but today people are objecting to the dual office of President Zardari.

He said, by becoming president of the country, Asif Ali Zardari occupied the palace from where conspiracies used to be hatched against the democratic governments.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Bilawal too young to contest elections: Khursheed Shah</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/485039/bilawal-too-young-to-contest-elections-khursheed-shah</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/485039/bilawal-too-young-to-contest-elections-khursheed-shah#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 27 Dec 12 05:18:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=485039</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is a couple of months short of becoming eligible for contesting elections.]]>
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				<![CDATA[To the disappointment of many jiyalas, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Khursheed Ahmed Shah said on Wednesday that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was a couple of months short of becoming eligible for contesting elections. However, the PPP leader added that once Bilawal becomes eligible, he will contest elections from his mother’s constituency.

Gilgit Baltistan chief minister Mehdi Shah said that the present PPP-led government will be the second government in the country’s history, after that of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, to complete its tenure. “Dictatorships have caused tremendous damage to the country and its institutions, but the PPP has strengthened these institutions through its policy of reconciliation.”

The two PPP leaders were talking to media personnel outside Sukkur airport, before embarking for Garhi Khuda Bukhsh.  When asked to comment on the government’s failure to arrest the killers of Benazir Bhutto, Mehdi Shah said that Interior Minister Rehman Malik would be the better person to talk on the matter.

The federal minister admitted that as elections come nearer, political parties will make decisions keeping in mind their own interests. The elections will be held on time, and our party’s central executive committee will discuss the issue in its upcoming meeting, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27th, 2012.

Correction: An earlier version of the article incorrectly mentioned "her mother's constituency" instead of "his mother's constituency" in the first paragraph. The error has been rectified.]]>
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			<title>Benazir death anniversary: VIPs to arrive in style at Garhi Khuda Bux</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/485130/benazir-death-anniversary-vips-to-arrive-in-style-at-garhi-khuda-bux</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/485130/benazir-death-anniversary-vips-to-arrive-in-style-at-garhi-khuda-bux#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 27 Dec 12 00:05:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[saad.hasan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=485130</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Chartered plane to take people to the anniversary venue at a cost of Rs92,000 per person.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Slain former premier Benazir Bhutto’s fifth death anniversary is all set to be a grand occasion for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) – and many people are willing to attend commemorations at any cost.

Some are even willing  to pay as much as Rs92,000 for a return flight on a  private jet from Karachi to Sukkur, located close to Garhi Khuda Bux, where commemorations will begin today (Thursday).

One private company, Princely Jets, will have its first flight take off today, flying a select number of passengers. It will return to Karachi in the evening, and will take out more flights to Sukkur based on demand.

Ghouse Akbar, a director at Akbar Group which owns Princely Jets, said it was too early to say how many seats will be sold during the operation, which was to continue from Wednesday through Friday. “Right now we are trying to gauge the market response,” he added.

While thousands of die-hard PPP activists will be travelling from all over the country to visit the Bhutto family’s graveyard in Larkana, most will be using cheaper private transport, including coach and bus services.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which operated special flights last year on the occasion, will not be doing so this year. Routine flights to Larkana have been able to meet the demand. PIA runs a daily flight between Karachi and Mohenjo Daro except on Wednesdays.

Princely Jets, however, has always focused on corporate clients and “high net worth” individuals. “We are using one jet for this particular service,” Akbar explained.

Pakistan’s aviation authorities have struggled to promote private jet services despite an improvement in the rural economy, after which they expected more people to start using the service.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has at least 20 charter companies registered, with a total of 85 aircraft. But industry experts say that most of these companies exist only on paper. JS Air, another chartered aircraft company, wrapped up its operations earlier in the year leaving just three other charter carriers – Princely Jets, Schon Air and Aircraft Sales and Services.

CAA’s former director general Junaid Amin said private jet services flourish along with foreign investment, which has plummeted in Pakistan over the years.

“We have a completely different kind of elite,” he said. “The ‘super rich’ here are not concerned about time. They have a lot of time and not much work. I am talking about landlords. They love to travel long distances in big cars with an entourage of guards.” Amin was explaining why the service was not as profitable as expected.

He added that multinational companies are the biggest customers for chartered air service providers. “But having just a handful of private jets doesn’t mean we don’t have rich people. It is just the mindset, which might change in the coming years,” Amin said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Bilawal Bhutto set to take centre stage at Garhi Khuda Buksh</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/484645/bilawal-bhutto-set-to-take-center-stage-at-garhi-khuda-buksh</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/484645/bilawal-bhutto-set-to-take-center-stage-at-garhi-khuda-buksh#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 26 Dec 12 13:21:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[sarfaraz.memon]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=484645</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Arrangements finalised to officially launch Bilawal Bhutto Zardari into the political sphere.]]>
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				<![CDATA[All arrangements have been finalised to officially launch Bilawal Bhutto Zardari into the political sphere through a public address at Garhi Khuda Buksh on Thursday. 

The fifth death anniversary of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) former chairperson Benazir Bhutto will be observed tomorrow in an open space in front of the mausoleum of the 'martyrs'.

President Asif Ali Zardari, MNA Faryal Talpur, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Asifa and Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari have already reached Garhi Khuda Buksh.

Security

Tight security arrangements have been made in Garhi Khuda Buksh and Naudero, where more than 7,000 policemen, rangers personnel and commandos have been deployed.

Close circuit television cameras have been installed at many places to monitor the mausoleum, stage and other places.

Walk through gates have also been installed to screen the visitors.

All the vehicles entering Naudero and Garhi Khuda Buksh are not only being checked by Rangers personnel, but also being cleared by sniffer dogs.

Day plan

Tomorrow, a Quran Khawani will be held in the morning after which free food will be distributed among the participants.

The public gathering will start around 2:30pm and will include addresses by President Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

The proceedings are expected to end around 7:00 pm.

The meeting of the PPP's Central Executive Committee, which was earlier scheduled for today, will be held on December 28 around noon.

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[poll id="982"]]]>
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			<title>Benazir’s death anniversary: Dec 27 to be marked by ‘big announcements’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/484494/benazir%e2%80%99s-death-anniversary-dec-27-to-be-marked-by-%e2%80%98big-announcements%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/484494/benazir%e2%80%99s-death-anniversary-dec-27-to-be-marked-by-%e2%80%98big-announcements%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 26 Dec 12 05:15:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[irfan.ghauri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=484494</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Bilawal Bhutto Zardari set to launch political career.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[With the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) all set to launch its co-chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari into active politics, some big announcements are expected at Garhi Khuda Baksh on December 27, Benazir Bhutto’s fifth death anniversary.


President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also co-chairperson of the party, has called a meeting of PPP’s central executive committee the next day at Naudero.

“Important announcements are expected … the party chairpersons will announce the PPP’s future roadmap,” a party leader said, adding that the most important among them will be the formal launch of Bilawal into active politics.

Bilawal will be unveiling the party’s election manifesto ahead of the 2013 parliamentary polls, party sources said. They added that the outcome of the recently held by-polls in Punjab will be a focal point of discussion for the central executive committee.

The party’s dismal performance in the Punjab by-elections is likely to lead to criticism of PPP Punjab President Manzoor Wattoo.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik recently claimed that the PPP is to reveal important information regarding the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. The revelations will aim to pacify loyal party workers as well as the general public, and possibly give the PPP some leverage in the upcoming elections.

There are also reports that President Zardari might opt to relinquish the office of co-chairman of the party, and hand over the party command to Bilawal. A top party leader did not confirm or deny this. “I can’t say anything ... But remember Zardari’s power lies in his party office,” he said, requesting not to be named.

President Zardari has faced criticism for holding dual offices – both of president and co-chairperson of the ruling party – simultaneously; and a case is pending in this regard in the Lahore High Court.

Gilani’s comeback

Since the PPP is confident about its power base in Sindh, it is expected to focus on Southern Punjab, and in this regard, former premier Yousaf Raza Gilani has been handed certain tasks in preparation for the 2013 polls.

Gilani, who was reportedly aggravated with the PPP’s top leadership for the apathy shown to him after his ouster as premier, was recently accosted by President Zardari. After successfully bringing Gilani back into his inner circle of close aides, the former prime minister is now attending key party meetings and is likely to be given important responsibilities in the party.

In accordance with the Constitution, President Zardari cannot participate in the party’s election campaign by addressing any public gatherings. As a result, PPP plans to use Bilawal as their “trump card”, but a more senior party member will be needed to spearhead the nationwide campaign. Gilani is a prospective candidate for this responsibility.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2012.

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[poll id="982"]]]>
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			<title>Benazir assassination case: Musharraf asks Interpol to dismiss red warrant</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/441500/benazir-assassination-case-musharraf-asks-interpol-to-dismiss-red-warrant</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/441500/benazir-assassination-case-musharraf-asks-interpol-to-dismiss-red-warrant#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 24 Sep 12 04:37:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zahid.gishkori]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=441500</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says his case is of ‘political and military character’.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has approached Interpol to seek dismissal of a request from the Pakistan government for issuance of his red warrant in Benazir Bhutto’s assassination case.


The former army chief sought the international police’s help following a third request from Pakistan to the Interpol headquarters last week, seeking a red warrant for him.

“Musharraf has sought Interpol’s assistance under Article 3 of Interpol’s Constitution, which enshrines the guiding principle of neutrality by explicitly forbidding Interpol from engaging in matters of political, military, religious and racial character,” a senior official associated with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) told The Express Tribune on Sunday.

The official, who is dealing with Benazir Bhutto’s assassination case, revealed that Musharraf has requested Interpol to treat his case as a matter of “political and military character”.

“Interpol may reject Pakistan’s request as neutrality has always been paramount to Interpol whose activities transcend international politics,” he quoted a friend of Musharraf as saying.

The former military ruler sent this letter to the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF) earlier this month.

The CCF which operates in line with a number of official rules and documents sought more evidence  and is monitoring Pakistan’s request.

In response to a question, the official claimed that the Interpol headquarters never rejected Pakistan’s request as reported by the media. “Interpol did not reject our request. It only asked for more documents,” he said, adding that this time they sent more documentary proof to the CCF to ensure Musharraf’s arrest.

Interpol reportedly informed the FIA that it could not issue a red warrant for Musharraf due to insufficient evidence and documentation presented to the CCF.

Consequently, FIA’s prosecutor in Benazir’s murder case Azhar Chaudhry told The Express Tribune that the FIA has again sent additional investigation reports and copies of statements by the then director general of the Intelligence Bureau Ejaz Shah and director-general of the Inter-Services Intelligence’s (ISI) counter-intelligence wing Javed Iqbal Cheema. Copies of Rawalpindi ATC’s order and US-based journalist Marc Siegel’s email to Benazir Bhutto were also sent to the CCF. “The CCF is the final authority to decide Musharraf’s fate,” Chaudhry said.

Pakistan also sought the United Kingdom’s assistance in this case but the British government rejected the appeal on the grounds that the two countries have no formal extradition treaty.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>FIA sends reminder to Interpol for red warrant against Musharraf</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/415910/fia-sends-reminder-to-interpol-for-red-warrant-against-musharraf</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/415910/fia-sends-reminder-to-interpol-for-red-warrant-against-musharraf#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 Aug 12 10:41:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[asad.kharal]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=415910</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Prosecutor denies media reports that Interpol has rejected Pakistan's request to issue red warrant.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has sent another reminder to the Interpol on Wednesday, after waiting for two months for it to issue a red warrant against former president Pervez Musharraf in Benazir Bhutto’s murder case.

The FIA prosecutor confirmed that a reminder had been dispatched to the Interpol through the National Central Bureau (NCB).

Prosecutor of the case Chaudhry Zulfiqar, talking to The Express Tribune, also clarified media reports stating that the Interpol had rejected Pakistan’s request to issue a red warrant against Musharraf and said that the FIA has not received any such reply from them.

He denied media reports which said that the Interpol rejected the request on the grounds that Pakistani authorities and the FIA had sent insufficient documentation for the purpose of issuing a red warrant.

He clarified that more than two months ago, a letter issued by the Interpol stated that it could not issue a red warrant based on the evidences and the documentation presented for the arrest of the former president. The Interpol had also asked about the validity of the warrant issued against Musharraf by the Anti Terrorism Court Rawalpindi.

In reply to the letter, the FIA had immediately dispatched the summary of the case, the arrest warrant and documentation in addition to the investigation reports. It also included copies of statements by then director-general of National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) of Ministry of Interior (MOI) Brigadier (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema and former director general of Intelligence Bureau (IB) Ejaz Shah, and US-based journalist Marc Siegel’s email to Benazir Bhutto and copies of the orders issued by the anti-terrorism court and other relevant documents, Zulfiqar added.

He further said that that the FIA has clarified to the Interpol that the perpetual warrant of arrest is valid till the arrest of the accused.]]>
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			<title>Benazir murder case: Court rejects bank’s plea to reopen Musharraf’s account</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/413155/benazir-murder-case-court-rejects-bank%e2%80%99s-plea-to-reopen-musharraf%e2%80%99s-account</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/413155/benazir-murder-case-court-rejects-bank%e2%80%99s-plea-to-reopen-musharraf%e2%80%99s-account#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jul 12 04:46:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[mudassir.raja]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=413155</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The trial judge said the bank had no legal standing to request detachment of the account.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday dismissed a bank’s plea seeking permission to reopen the bank account of former president Pervez Musharraf after it was seized in connection with the Benazir Bhutto murder case.


Special Judge ATC-I Chaudhry Habibur Rehman dismissed the plea of Habib Bank Limited in Islamabad asking for reopening of the attached account claiming it to be a trust account.

The trial judge, while disposing of the plea, said the bank had no legal standing to request detachment of the account as only the affected persons could approach the court.

The bank through its branch manager had asked for reopening the account containing over Rs60 million, calling it a trust account that had money which was supposed to be used for the welfare of needy people.

The account was seized after the former president, an accused in the case of Benazir Bhutto’s murder, was declared a proclaimed offender and his properties were attached by the court.

A special public prosecutor from the Federal Investigation Agency had contended before the court that the account was the personal account of Musharraf and it was never used for welfare purpose.

Secondly, the bank had no legal standing to urge for reopening the account as they were not affected by the court order.

Thirdly, a proclaimed offender can only personally claim legal relief after getting bail from the court or surrendering himself before law enforcers.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>BB assassination case: Court defers decision on unfreezing Musharraf’s account</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/411522/bb-assassination-case-court-defers-decision-on-unfreezing-musharraf%e2%80%99s-account</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/411522/bb-assassination-case-court-defers-decision-on-unfreezing-musharraf%e2%80%99s-account#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 22 Jul 12 05:18:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[mudassir.raja]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=411522</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Prosecution wants former president to show up in court first; accused teenager asks for separation of case.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A trial court hearing the assassination case of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto reserved judgment on Saturday on an application seeking the unfreezing of one of Pervez Musharraf’s bank accounts. The former president’s bank account was seized after he was declared a proclaimed offender. 


Anti-Terrorism Court Special Judge Chaudhry Habibur Rehman reserved the decision till July 25 on the application filed by the Habib Bank Limited (HBL) management.

The court will also decide on an application filed by a juvenile accused in the same case about the separation of his trial from the other arrested accused during the next hearing.

In its application, the bank argued that the account in question is a trust account rather than a personal one. The account is not solely controlled by Musharraf as it is for a welfare trust registered in the UK and is jointly operated by another man, Arif Amin. The account holds Rs60 million.

Federal Investigation Agency Special Public Prosecutor Chuadhry Zulfiqar Ali argued that the bank did not have any legal standing to ask for the unfreezing of the account.

“Under the law, no one can seek relief on behalf of a proclaimed offender (PO). [The PO] either has to surrender before the law or get bail from the concerned court before seeking any relief,” the prosecutor argued.

Zulfiqar argued that the trust is not registered in Pakistan and thus the account cannot be declared a welfare account. In addition, no traction showing any relief activity or welfare purpose had been shown by the bank to prove that the account is personal.

Separately, the court also reserved its decision on the application of Aitzaz Shah, a juvenile accused in the case who is seeking trial by regular court instead of the ATC.

Representing the accused, Advocate Naseer Tanoli Shah argued that Aitzaz was under 18 when he was arrested from Dera Ismail Khan in January 2008. “A juvenile cannot be tried under terror laws and alongside adults,” the lawyer argued.

FIA Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar, however, argued that President Asif Ali Zardari issued an ordinance in April this year declaring that a juvenile could be tried by an ATC.

He added that it was the exclusive jurisdiction of anti-terrorism courts to try all accused under terror laws and no exemption should be given to Shah, who was closely involved in the conspiracy to kill Bhutto. The decision on Aitzaz Shah’s plea will also be announced on July 25.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22nd, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Enlarged SC bench to hear BB murder case</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/409766/enlarged-sc-bench-to-hear-bb-murder-case</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/409766/enlarged-sc-bench-to-hear-bb-murder-case#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jul 12 04:17:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[azam.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=409766</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Second FIR petitioned against main suspects.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court formed a five-member bench on Tuesday to hear the Benazir Bhutto assassination case next week.


PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto was killed in a gun-and-bomb attack outside Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007.

Advocate Chaudhry Aslam, the protocol officer of Benazir, petitioned the apex court for the registration of another FIR against the main suspects, many of who are now government officials.

During a previous hearing, a three-judge bench of the apex court – headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry – had noted that a second FIR needed to be registered as the first one did not include the names of key suspects.

The court had also issued notices to former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, incumbent Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik, Senator Babar Awan and other prominent figures, including some senior military officials.

All of them, however, denied involvement in the assassination plot and assured the court of their cooperation for a transparent investigation.

The court observed that for a fair inquiry, all suspects, including Malik and Elahi, should relinquish their official posts because it was not possible for ASI-level officers to investigate them.

The court had proposed a high-level commission should investigate Benazir’s murder. For this purpose, Justice Chaudhry had asked then-attorney general Maulvi Anwarul Haq to consult the government. However, the attorney general had opposed the registration of a second FIR.

Expressing its surprise, the court had questioned the government’s reluctance to investigate the high-profile murder.  The court had also asked why action was not taken in light of a UN inquiry report.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Benazir murder case: SC forms five-member larger bench</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/409461/benazir-murder-case-sc-forms-five-member-larger-bench</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/409461/benazir-murder-case-sc-forms-five-member-larger-bench#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jul 12 11:47:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[azam.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=409461</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The bench will hear the case from next week.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court of Pakistan has formed a larger bench on Tuesday to hear the Benazir Bhutto murder case even though a second FIR was yet to be registered.

The bench, comprising of five members, will hear the case from next week, whether it is necessary or not.

A three-member bench, headed by the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, heard the case regarding the registration of another FIR for Benazir's murder.

Earlier the court had noted that a second FIR needed to be registered as the first did not include names of some of the key suspects.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had also submitted a final challan in the murder case and nominated former president Pervez Musharraf as the main offender.

According to the FIA prosecutor, the challan states that Musharraf has been “intentionally” avoiding court notices issued to him and that the hearings should proceed in his absence.]]>
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			<title>Benazir Bhutto assassination case: Rehman Malik submits reply</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/369200/benazir-bhutto-assassination-case-rehman-malik-submits-reply</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/369200/benazir-bhutto-assassination-case-rehman-malik-submits-reply#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Apr 12 07:10:55 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=369200</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Malik submitted his statement to the Supreme Court and a new trial has been entered in the Benazir Bhutto murder case.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Tuesday submitted his reply to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the Benazir Bhutto murder case, and a new trial has been entered, Express News has reported.

Earlier the court had noted that a second FIR needed to be registered as the first did not include names of some of the key suspects such as Rehman Malik. It observed that as long as the senior ministers - the high profile suspects - hold offices, an independent investigation is not possible.

This led to the apex court, under a three member bench - headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising of Justice Tariq Pervez and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain - asking the suspects, including interior minister Rehman Malik, to step down from their public offices so that independent investigation could be carried out.

Justice Pervez had pointed out that Malik had stated in his written reply submitted to the court that the accused were already in custody and their charge-sheets had been produced before the courts. The bench observed that the reply had also suggested that the case not be heard anymore.

Questioning the intentions of the PPP-led government, the court had earlier noted that Malik and another federal minister, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi were ‘opposing’ the registration of the second FIR.]]>
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			<title>Benazir murder case: For fair probe, Malik should step down, says SC</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/365858/benazir-murder-case-for-fair-probe-malik-should-step-down-says-sc</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/365858/benazir-murder-case-for-fair-probe-malik-should-step-down-says-sc#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 17 Apr 12 00:27:12 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[azam.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=365858</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says investigations not possible when suspects hold public offices.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court on Monday advised suspects in the Benazir Bhutto murder case, including Interior Minister Rehman Malik, to step down from public offices so that an independent investigation can take place.


A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Tariq Pervez and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, also noted that a second FIR needs to be registered as the first did not include names of some of the key suspects such as Rehman Malik.

In this regard, it observed that, as long as high profile suspects hold offices, an independent investigation is not possible. “How can a sub-inspector have enough courage to probe someone at the helm of affairs?” questioned the chief justice.

Questioning the intentions of the PPP-led government, the court noted that Malik and another federal minister, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, were opposing the registration of a second FIR.

The advice came when Rehman Malik’s counsel Anwar Mansoor Khan sought one week’s time from the court to submit a reply. The chief justice rebutted: “You want to create obstacles in the proceedings? How much longer do you want to linger?”

Chief Justice Chaudhry then told the counsel that Rehman Malik should facilitate an independent probe by appearing before the court himself to clear his position as a suspect.

Mansoor replied that his client was ready to present himself, but the CJ then observed that, at the end of the day, a fair probe was not possible till the accused held the government office. Justice Khilji Arif Hussain noted the trend was that investigation teams were changed to hinder an independent probe.

Justice Tariq Pervez pointed out that Rehman Malik had stated in his written reply submitted to the court that the accused were already in custody and their charge-sheets had been produced before the courts. The bench observed that the reply had also suggested that the case not be heard anymore. The bench raised its concerns about the apathy plaguing the case. “Why did the government not publish the UN report on which Rs60 million of the taxpayers’ money was spent? Why have no steps been taken in light of the report? Why was the murder of an internationally-acclaimed leader not taken up in the assemblies and relevant parliamentary forums?”

It also questioned the intentions of the petitioner, Chaudhry Aslam, the protocol officer of Benazir Bhutto, asking why he had not approached the court earlier.

No counsel appeared on behalf of former law minister Babar Awan. The case was adjourned till April 24.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Siegel says Musharraf knew about Benazir's murder plot: Report</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/353548/siegel-says-musharraf-knew-about-benazirs-murder-plot-report</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/353548/siegel-says-musharraf-knew-about-benazirs-murder-plot-report#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 22 Mar 12 07:34:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=353548</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Mark Siegel writes that Benazir was visibly shaken after she hung up Musharraf's &quot;threatening&quot; phone call.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[According to the report by UN and Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed by the government of Pakistan to probe the Benazir Bhutto murder, Pervez Musharraf was aware and involved in the Benazir assassination plot, wrote Mark Siegel for The New York Daily News on Thursday.  

Siegel wrote that Benazir was “visibly shaken” after she hung up Musharraf's “threatening” phone call on September 25, 2007.

“Musharraf had threatened her with dire consequences if she returned to Pakistan to lead her Pakistan Peoples Party in the upcoming elections, where she was the major threat to defeat him. Bhutto quoted him as saying that she would be responsible for what happened to her,” he wrote.

Siegel added that, “Bhutto had believed that Musharraf was complicit in the attempt to take her life in Karachi by not providing her enough security. In fact, his involvement in the Karachi and Rawalpindi attacks was much more direct and insidious.”

The government, after four years of investigation, has started legal procedure against Musharraf, who is currently in exile in London, and also requested Interpol to issue red warrants for his arrest.

Earlier, Musharraf had been asked to appear in the Supreme Court on March 22 (today) with documents proving his identity as a Pakistani citizen.

Due to an editing error, an earlier version of the post stated that Benazir Bhutto received the “threatening” phone call on September 25, 2011. It has now been rectified.]]>
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			<title>BB murder case: Court notice pasted outside Musharraf's farmhouse</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/346196/bb-murder-case-court-notice-pasted-outside-musharrafs-islamabad-house</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/346196/bb-murder-case-court-notice-pasted-outside-musharrafs-islamabad-house#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 06 Mar 12 07:31:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=346196</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Notice asks Mushar­raf to appear in SC on March 22 with docume­nts provin­g his identi­ty as a Pakist­ani...]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[On the directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, a notice summoning former President Pervez Musharraf in the Benazir Bhutto murder case has been pasted outside his farmhouse located in the Chak Shahzad area of Islamabad, Express News reported on Tuesday.

The notice asks Musharraf to appear in the Supreme Court on March 22 with documents proving his identity as a Pakistani citizen.

“Yes, I can confirm that a notice has been pasted on the main gate of Musharraf's farm house,” Sheikh Naeem, a senior police official, told AFP.

The Supreme Court had passed the orders yesterday over the non-delivery of notices to key witnesses and suspects in the murder probe. The court had directed the Registrar’s Office to ensure a speedy process of the delivery to all parties.

A formal application from the interior ministry had also been moved to the Interpol headquarters in France for the issuance of red warrants against the former president. The request was routed through a representative of Interpol in Pakistan.]]>
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			<title>BB murder case: SC wants notices sent to all respondents within 2 weeks</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/345714/bb-murder-case-sc-wants-notices-sent-to-all-respondents-within-2-weeks</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/345714/bb-murder-case-sc-wants-notices-sent-to-all-respondents-within-2-weeks#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Mar 12 07:15:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[azam.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=345714</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[During hearing of 2nd FIR, court orders AG to send notice to Musharraf's residence in London.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court, expressing concern over the non-issuance of notices to key witnesses in Benazir Bhutto murder case, adjourned the hearing of the second FIR for two weeks.

The apex court inquired from Attorney General  Maulvi Anwarul Haq of why the notices summoning the respondents were not sent out.

The attorney general responded that a notice could not be sent to former president Pervez Musharraf because he is currently residing abroad and also not to former law minister Babar Awan because he does not have a permanent office.

The court ordered the attorney general to send the notice to Musharraf’s residence in London, and also to locate Awan’s address.

However, two other respondents, former Rawalpindi city police chief Saud Aziz and former Rawalpindi city SP Khurram Shehzad, submitted their replies to the court through the attorney general. In the reply, they maintained that there was no need of a second FIR as the first one was already being heard.

Federal Investigative Agency’s (FIA) application seeking to be a respondent in the case was also accepted by the court. The FIA has been asked to appear before the court in the next hearing.]]>
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			<title>Another witness points to Baitullah’s hand in Benazir murder case</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/345171/another-witness-points-to-baitullah%e2%80%99s-hand-in-benazir-murder-case</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/345171/another-witness-points-to-baitullah%e2%80%99s-hand-in-benazir-murder-case#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 04 Mar 12 05:26:30 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[mudassir.raja]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=345171</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Accused confesses to involvement, says he paid two bombers to carry out the attack.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[One of the five men arrested in connection with former premier Benazir Bhutto’s murder has confessed to having planned the attack with the suicide bomber, according to a judicial magistrate appearing as a prosecution witness before the court.


In his statement before the anti-terrorism court, Magistrate Ahmed Masood Janjua confirmed that the accused Rasheed Ahmed alias Abdul Raheem Tarabi had confessed in 2008 that he had arranged for two suicide bombers on the direction of Baitullah Mehsud to kill the former Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader.

The magistrate said the accused had confessed in his statement that he recruited Bilal, alias Saeed, and Ikram as two suicide bombers for Rs400, 000.

The two men were taken to the house of Hasnain Gul, another accused, by Rasheed, where the bombers spent the night, after which they were dropped at the rally before the start of the prime minister’s address, according to Rasheed’s confessional statement.

Rasheed said that both bombers were to carry out the blasts, but only Bilal was successful.

The counsel for the accused sought time to cross-examine the magistrate and the hearing was deferred till March 10.

Musharraf’s bank account

Separately, the management of the Habib Metropolitan Bank prayed the trial court to detach the seized account of former president Pervez Musharraf, saying it was being treated as a trust account.

A lawyer representing the bank urged the court to allow the bank to operate the account.

Opposing the request, Federal Investigation Agency Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali informed the court that it is only the proclaimed offender himself who can approach the court after getting bail or submitting himself before the law of land, he said.

The lawyer said the account contained Rs35 million and the money had never been used for trust purposes.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>BB murder case: Another witness points toward Baitullah Mehsud</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/344916/bb-murder-case-another-witness-points-toward-baitullah-mehsud</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/344916/bb-murder-case-another-witness-points-toward-baitullah-mehsud#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 03 Mar 12 11:37:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=344916</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Main accused Abdul Rasheed reveals Mehsud's hand behind Oct 8 suicide blast.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Magistrate Ahmed Mansoor Janjua said on Saturday that Abdul Rasheed, the main accused behind the October 8 suicide blast on Benazir Bhutto’s rally, revealed to him that the attack was planned and orchestrated by Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud.

During the hearing of Benazir Bhutto murder case in a special Anti-Terrorism Court, Janjua said that he had told Rasheed that his statements could be held against him, but Rasheed replied that he is giving the statements without any pressure.

The magistrate told the court that Rasheed confessed that Mehsud not only brought two suicide bombers from Waziristan but also handed him Rs400,000 to carry out the task.

The suicide bombers were taken for a survey of Liaquat Bagh a day before the rally. The map of the area was explained to them, and after spending the night with Rafaqat and Hussain – both currently under arrest – the bombers arrived at the rally venue five hours before it began, detailed Janjua.

He added that both the bombers were supposed to detonate themselves, but the target was achieved after Bilal blew himself up. So Mehsud took the other bomber Ikramullah back to South Waziristan after he was informed of a successful attack.

In the next hearing of the case, four more government witnesses will record their statements.]]>
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			<title>Imran Khan vows justice for Benazir Bhutto</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/344274/imran-khan-vows-justice-for-benazir-bhutto</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/344274/imran-khan-vows-justice-for-benazir-bhutto#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 01 Mar 12 20:44:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=344274</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says PTI will expose those who were involved, after it comes into power.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will pursue the resolution of former Premier Benazir Bhutto’s murder case, in an effort to fulfill the “long-standing” wish of senior Pakistan Peoples Party’s leaders, who had come into the PTI, party Chairman Imran Khan said on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference, Khan formally announced the joining of former PPP senior leader Dr Israr Shah. However the PTI chief clarified that his party would have pursued Benazir Bhutto’s case even if Shah had not joined them.

The new PTI entrant, sharing his reason for joining the PTI, said, “My sole purpose to join the PTI is to nab the killers of late Benazir Bhutto. Now, nobody can stop me from exposing those who were trying to cover up the murder. I am free to speak now and any attempt to stop me will be a disaster.”

Despite his brave claims, he desisted from divulging any new information at the press conference. Instead he now through the PTI, he would complete Benazir Bhutto’s unfinished agenda.

During the conference, Khan reiterated that the PTI will expose those who were involved in the murder of the former prime minister, when PTI will come into power.

“We had said this some three years back that it would be the PTI which would arrest her killers. The United Nation investigators’ special inquiry report on this case stated officials concerned did not cooperate fully to unearth the accused,” he pointed out.

Using this to build his case against the PPP, Khan said “It means there is something wrong with PPP leaders who are not serious about bringing the culprits to book.” The PTI will carry out protest demonstrations in all provinces, he added.

The PTI chief praised Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, by calling him a nationalist who had done a wonderful job by summoning an all Muslims countries conference during his tenure.

Talking about the various crises facing the nation, Khan said that the masses were unnecessarily being burdened and that the government needs to check prices instead of adding to the woes miseries of poor people.

“Masses became have poorer and poorer while rulers’ pockets are inflated with embezzled money,” he alleged.

The attack on Shia bus passengers in Kohistan a few days back was also condemned. “It is the government’s responsibility to ensure law and order,” he complained.

Apprehension about appointment of judges

He said that the appointment of judges through parliamentarians under the 18th amendment was a way to hide corruption. Khan said that anybody can join the PTI. “We don’t need anyone’s permission to allow people to join us,” he added.

Referring to the by-elections being conducted on old electoral lists, Khan said they would move the Supreme Court on the issue.]]>
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			<title>BB murder case: Interpol to be issued red warrant for Musharraf's arrest</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/343396/bb-murder-case-red-warrant-issued-to-interpol-for-musharrafs-arrest</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/343396/bb-murder-case-red-warrant-issued-to-interpol-for-musharrafs-arrest#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Feb 12 06:52:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zahid.gishkori]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=343396</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Interi­or Minist­ry to dispat­ch red warran­t to arrest former presid­ent this evenin­g.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The govenment of Pakistan is all set to issue a red warrant to Interpol’s headquarters for the arrest of former president Pervez Musharraf on the orders of the anti-terrorism court-I in Rawalpindi in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case.

A senior official of the Interior Ministry, on condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that the all documentation will be dispatched to Interpol authorities in Geneva by evening, today (Wednesday).

Federal Investigation Agency’s prosecutor in the Benazir Bhutto murder probe, Chaudhry Zulfiqar told The Express Tribune that the documentation was completed and forwarded to the Interior Ministry. He added that the Interior Ministry is “likely to forward it by the evening, today.”

Musharraf will be placed on Interpol’s most wanted list after an arrest notice is issued by the agency.

The warrant states that Musharraf should be brought back to Pakistan in order to carry out proceedings against him in the murder probe.

The documentation submitted by the Federal Investigation Agency to the Interior Ministry entails the summary/investigation documents, copies of the statements given by the then director-general of Counter Intelligence wing of ISI Javed Iqbal Cheema and former director-general of Intelligence Bureau of Pakistan Ejaz Shah have also been sent to Interpol, US-based journalist Marc Siegel’s e-mail to Bhutto, copy of the court orders and other orders of ATC.

The investigation officer of the murder probe, Deputy Director Federal Investigation Agency Khalid Rasool had forwarded the arrest documents to the Interior Ministry, which moved it to the concerned authority of Interpol in Pakistan.

The warrant will be sent via e-mail and through post.

Earlier this month, Interior Minister Rehman Malik revealed the investigation report of the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in the Sindh Assembly and vowed to bring then president Pervaiz Musharraf back to the country.

He also assured the Senate that Musharraf would be arrested upon his return to Pakistan.
“I assure this house that if he lands in Pakistan, he will be arrested because he is a proclaimed offender in the Benazir Bhutto murder case,” the minister had said.

The interior minister’s assurance comes a day after Senator Raza Rabbani submitted a 10-point charge sheet in Senate, calling for the former dictator’s arrest.

Malik said the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government never said that it would not take action against Musharraf, and added that while it is the responsibility of the federal government to give an order for registering a case against Musharraf, it is important for someone to register a complaint in this regard.

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[poll id="674"]]]>
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			<title>Media watch: BB’s assassination briefing provides little perspective</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/340624/media-watch-bb%e2%80%99s-assassination-briefing-provides-little-perspective</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/340624/media-watch-bb%e2%80%99s-assassination-briefing-provides-little-perspective#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 12 09:17:38 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=340624</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Dawn declares Malik’s briefing “rambling and disjointed” - The Nation declares it &quot;full of contradictions&quot;.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Today's top editorial topic was Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s Sindh Assembly briefing on Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.

The Express Tribune says Malik’s address to the Sindh Assembly “brings up some intriguing facts along with a lot of old hat”.

The paper goes on to say that:
“The revelation by Malik that former students of the Darul Uloom Haqqania does offer food for thought…the account given, provided that it is backed by sufficient evidence, should make us think harder about the role played even by the better known seminaries in our country.”
Dawn declares Malik’s briefing “rambling and disjointed” and says:
"taking up the investigation into the assassination of Ms Bhutto with seriousness of purpose ought to be something that can and should be attempted."
The paper adds that "playing politics with the death of Benazir Bhutto is a disservice to her memory."

The News says the briefing "directly points an accusing finger at General (r) Pervez Musharraf."

Bringing up the Darul Uloom Haqqania, the paper adds that the report "does raise questions about the possible scale of the plot and all the elements involved in it."

The Nation declared Malik’s briefing ‘full of contradictions’ and said the interior minister "failed to make the eager Pakistani, particularly her fans in the party, any wiser in that he unveiled virtually nothing new."

With regards to pinning the blame on Musharraf, the paper adds:
“The question is: How the Interior Minister would establish collusion between the self-exiled President and the militant outfits. It would hardly convince the man in the street, let alone an informed person, who is quite aware that General (retd) Musharraf was, in fact, fighting these outfits.”
Daily Times also agreed that “Malik did not reveal anything new as such.”

The paper adds that:
"Some people have observed that the Sindh Assembly resolution and Mr Malik’s briefing was an attempt at political point scoring in order to gain political capital. Given that the next general elections may be held in a few months time, this cannot be ruled out."
&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>The whole truth?</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/340167/the-whole-truth</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/340167/the-whole-truth#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 12 18:24:40 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=340167</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Benazir assassination: It is a good omen the report has been discussed in public, lies open for all of us to consider.]]>
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				<![CDATA[In our country, the truth, or at least all of it, is always hard to come by. But at least some interesting facts have emerged from Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s response to a resolution, moved by members of the Sindh Assembly, demanding that the report into the December 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto be made public. The report has so far been kept under wraps, shared only with the PPP’s Central Executive Committee. Malik’s briefing to the Sindh Assembly followed in quick succession by the revelation of the content of the report in Lahore, brings up some intriguing facts along with a lot of old hat.

As the PPP has held before, Malik blamed former president Pervez Musharraf for the murder, charging that he not only knew of the murder — carried out by the late Baitullah Mehsud — but had also abetted it by failing to put in place proper security. The report contents in Lahore also stated that Musharraf had organised the hasty and illogical press conference, held hours after the killing by the then Crisis Cell Management in charge, Javed Iqbal Cheema. Senior police officers were also blamed for failing to allow an autopsy. We have heard much of this before; it offers little that is really new.

The revelation by Malik that former students of the Darul Uloom Haqqania — one of the largest and best known seminaries in the country — were involved, does however, offer food for thought. The allegation is that the plot was hatched at the seminary, mainly to punish Benazir for her role in the Lal Masjid operation, carried out, of course, under Musharraf. This adds something of a new twist to the tale, given the standing of the seminary. Its founder, Maulana Samiul Haq has immediately denied involvement — but the account given, provided that it is backed by sufficient evidence, should make us think harder about the role played even by the better known seminaries in our country. Even if little that is truly startling has emerged from the minister’s remarks, it is a good omen that the report has been discussed in public and lies open before all of us to consider.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Jamia Haqqania: Seminary chief denies ex students’ involvement</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/340004/jamia-haqqania-seminary-chief-denies-ex-students%e2%80%99-involvement</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/340004/jamia-haqqania-seminary-chief-denies-ex-students%e2%80%99-involvement#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 12 01:39:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=340004</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Haq says his seminary’s curriculum is ‘balanced and peaceful’ and offered an inspection to prove it.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Rejecting Rehman Malik’s charges of his students’ involvement in Benazir’s assassination, chief cleric of the Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak, Maulana Samiul Haq, asked the interior minister to “prove them guilty.”


“I have asked the government and security officials several times to take concrete steps to prove the accused students guilty, instead of leveling allegations against them,” said Haq, who is also chief of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam.

“I offer my cooperation in this regard even now,” he added.

Haq, who has served as a member of the upper house of parliament, claimed that not a single student of his seminary was involved in terrorist activities or in targeting security installations.

He said his seminary’s curriculum is ‘balanced and peaceful’ and offered an inspection to prove it.

Smokescreen

Benazir was great leader and a leading thinker, and pointing fingers to Jamia Haqqania for her murder appears to be an attempt to hide her real assassins, said Maulana Syed Yousaf Shah, a spokesperson for the seminary in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Religious seminaries and political parties faced no threats from Benazir; the establishment and other political actors had to lose in case of her coming into government, Shah added.

“Darul Uloom Haqqania considers these allegations a part and parcel of international propaganda waged against religious institutions across the world,” he said.

Terming the report a “compendium of contradictions,” Shah said the accused students mentioned in the report, including Atizaz, Hassnain and Rafaqat, had no links with seminary.

“There were two students, Ibad and Ismael, whose record we gave to the FIA,” Shah told The Express Tribune on phone.

“They studied at the Haqqania but were not students when Benazir was assassinated,” he added.

“Many people study at different madrassas. What does the madrassa have to do with what they do once they have left?” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22nd, 2012.]]>
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