All accused submit final statements in Benazir murder case except Musharraf

Prosecution likely to present arguments when case resumes on June 10

RAWALPINDI: Apart from former president General (retired) Pervez Musharraf, all others named in the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto submitted their final statements in the case on Saturday, denying all charges against them.

Subsequently, Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC-I) Special Judge Malik Muhammad Asghar adjourned the hearing in the case till June 10. The prosecution is expected to start their final arguments when hearings in the case resume.



The trial court has already held separate proceedings against Musharraf since he was out of the country and wanted to convey his statement via video link from abroad.

The accused who submitted their statements included former Rawalpindi Chief Police Officer Saud Aziz, former Rawal Town Superintendent Police Khurram Shahzad, Aitzaz Shah Sherazi, Sherzaman, Hasnain Gul, Rafaqat Hussain, and Abdul Rasheed.

Aziz is accused of not carrying out a post mortem of Benazir Bhutto. SP Shahzad, on the other hand, is accused of ordering officials to ‘wash’ the crime scene outside Liaquat Bagh.

Gul and Hussain are accused of providing shelter to and later transporting to Liaquat Bagh the suicide bomber who had detonated his explosive vest just as former prime minister Benazir exited the park after a political rally on December 27, 2007.



Shah, a suspected suicide bomber, had revealed the names of people who had allegedly conspired and carried out the attack which killed Benazir. Shah made the disclosures after being arrested in Dera Ismail Khan.

Sherzaman is accused of being a handler for Shah.

Meanwhile, Rasheed in his confessional statement said that a conspiracy to kill the former prime minister had been hatched at the Madrassa Akora Khattak.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2017.