‘ZA Bhutto case reopening not a vindictive act’

Government seeks to right ‘historic wrong’, says Zardari in late-night address.


Express April 04, 2011



President Asif Ali Zardari has said that reopening the case of ‘judicial murder’ of founding chairperson of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the most popular premier of the country Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB) is not an act of revenge on the part of his party.


Addressing a public gathering on the occasion of the 32nd death anniversary of ZAB in Garhi Khuda Bux, the president said that he has sent a reference to the Supreme Court seeking revisit of the case because he wanted to correct a ‘historic wrong’.

Referring to the book of former Supreme Court judge Naseem Hassan Shah, he said that some of the judges who were part of the bench that sentenced ZAB have admitted that it was a manipulated judgment. He added that no judge has ever endorsed the conviction of ZAB.

President Zardari said it was high time that the responsible institution got rid of this stigma. He added that the credit of reinstating the judges sacked by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf goes to the PPP government.

Referring to the unveiling of the investigation report into Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, Zardari said that his government has unmasked the killers of his slain wife. He said that some of the killers were standing in the dock, while the remaining would be brought to justice.

However, in the same breath he added that they were not seeking revenge. “The law is taking its course,” he said. “We believe democracy is the best revenge.”

He called upon all political parties to join hands with the government for strengthening genuine democracy in the country and for introducing economic reforms.

He promised free, fair and transparent elections, saying that if the people did not vote for the PPP in the next general elections, they would ensure peaceful transfer of power.

He said that he had been incarcerated for “so long that if he had been found guilty in any case instituted against him, he would not have to serve more than what he had to serve time in jail.

The central leadership of the PPP is gathered at Naudero. Observers expect party  leaders to set out the PPP’s political strategy for the upcoming year.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4th,  2011.

COMMENTS (7)

Mulla Toofhan | 12 years ago | Reply Yes, This case needs to be clarified and history needs to be corrected, If several of the judges accept that the verdict was manipulated then all the more reason to reopen the case. Zia-ul-Haq was a snake in the grass in Military uniform and I believe he with his corrupt generals decided to get rid of ZAB. The power hungry generals of Pakistan to this day haven't given up their illegal authority
Zahid Hussain | 12 years ago | Reply @Syed Imran: Our judiciary is independant na, then what is problem to open this case? they will simply convict the actual culprits irrespective area, race and manymore.
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