Pakistan

Benazir assassination case: Mark Siegel agrees to record statement

Siegel will record his statement via video link in Pakistan Embassy in Washington on August 26

Web Desk August 24, 2015

PHOTO: AFP

US author Mark Seigel who had earlier refused to record a statement in Benazir Bhutto assassination case expressed on Monday willingness to record a statement via a video conference, Express News reported.

Seigel, a close friend and confidante of the late prime minister and an important prosecution witness, earlier cited security reasons for his refusal to appear in person to record a statement against former military ruler Pervez Musharaf in the Benazir assassination case.

Earlier this year, the author said he was ready to record his statement through video link.

Read: Benazir assassination case: Mark Siegel refuses to record statement in Pakistan

According to sources, the video conference is scheduled to be held on August 26 at 7:30pm, for which preparations are underway.

The video conference will be headed and witnessed by ATC-I Judge Muhammad Ayub Marth who will record Seigel's statement. Further, sources said that Marth will be able to question Seigel after he has made his statement.

Siegel will record his statement from Pakistan Embassy in Washington.

Former prime minister Benazir was assassinated outside Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh on December 27, 2007 and according to Siegel, Musharraf had threatened Benazir with “dire consequences” if she returned home before the 2008 election.

Read: Mark siegel’s statement: FIA, IB heads told to contact US Embassy

Along with five other prosecution witnesses, Siegel was summoned on January 5 by an anti-terrorism court to record statements in the high-profile assassination case.

COMMENTS (9)

Muhammad Nasrullah | 8 years ago | Reply It is just the wastage of time and money, with no outcome..

Ahmad | 8 years ago | Reply It is just the wastage of time and money, with no outcome..

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Khurram Kaleem | 8 years ago | Reply After late brig Hameed Gul death ...Is this a coincidence as don't forger BB nominated late Hameed Gul as one of the three FIR nominee if she is murdered !

Khurram Kaleem | 8 years ago | Reply Only after Late Hameed Gul death Mark seigal agrees to record his statement .....dont forget BB had nominated Brig Late Hameed Gul an d 2 others if she was murdered!

Z A | 8 years ago | Reply Why would anybody, in this case Musharaf, take such a big step to kill someone, knowing the sure blames he would get. For musharaf, killing her was never lucrative. So, Simply in this case the benefited squad must be probed.

Onlysion John Derochea 111 | 8 years ago | Reply I have no experience in politics. No political education. I am no good witness to testifying on any reason this beautiful lady would expose herself to danger. But I have something to say. Whether I get it right today or tomorrow is a matter time. I question America's motivation behind asking her to return to Pakistan. Our foreign politics stood back and couldn't help her Father against a dictator. Or wouldn't! I love this family. Unconditionally. I love my country. I think both her Father and her gave their lives to protect their country and prevent a war. Our politics played a part. Maybe we gave her no choice but to go after a monster.

cautious | 8 years ago | Reply Siegel has always agreed to make a statement - he just refused to make a statement inside Pakistan where he believed his life would be in danger.

Iftikhar Bhutta | 8 years ago | Reply Mark Seigal recording statement will help early concluding the case .

Uza Syed | 8 years ago | Reply This is ridiculous. Mark Siegel is so important and all knowing that his statement supercedes all the evidence collected by our own agencies as well as UN and Scotland Yard investigations and the information collected through interceptions of Talibans' telephone communications etc. If the idea is just to somehow drag former President Musharraf into this then it is different, otherwise it's clear that Benazir behavior was reckless and irresponsible, she suffered either from the disease called hubris or it's plain death wish which compelled her to expose herself and became easy target for the terrorists baying for her blood.

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