ATC verdict challenged: PPP wants Musharraf, others hanged over Benazir murder

Zardari files three petitions in LHC Rawalpindi Bench

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari has challenged a decision of an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Benazir Bhutto murder case, demanding capital punishment for all accused, including former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.

On August 31, the ATC in Rawalpindi acquitted five alleged operatives of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for want of evidence over assassination of Benazir in a gun and suicide attack in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007.



The ATC had declared the then city police officer (CPO), Saud Aziz, and the then superintendent of police (SP), Khurram Shahzad, as facilitators in the crime and slapped each of them with a 17-year jail term and a fine of Rs10m. It also declared Musharraf a proclaimed offender and ordered confiscation of his properties.

The PPP had rejected the decision and on Monday Sardar Latif Khosa filed three separate petitions in the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court, challenging the verdict on behalf of Zardari.

The first petition says Musharraf masterminded the conspiracy to kill Benazir. It claims that statement of American journalist Mark Siegel and foreign ministry’s former spokesperson Javed Iqbal Cheema as well as probes by the Scotland Yard and United Nations are ‘concrete evidence’ of Musharraf’s involvement.



It demands that the ATC’s decision to separate Musharraf’s case should be declared void and the trial court should conduct hearing in his absence and award him severe punishment under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

The second appeal claims that CPO Aziz and SP Shehzad were part of the conspiracy. It says Aziz was transferred from Gujranwala to Rawalpindi to execute the assassination plot.

The petition alleges that Aziz removed ‘box security’ arrangement for Benazir and hence provided an easy target to the shooter and suicide bomber.

Punishment awarded to both the police officers – 17 years imprisonment and Rs1 million penalty – is insufficient, and they should also be sentenced to death for murder and terrorism.

The third petition claims that the trial court judge illegally rejected confessions of five TTP operatives which led to their acquittal. It says the telephonic record and DNA reports were against the accused and therefore they should also be awarded death sentence.

The initial hearing of appeals will probably take place on Wednesday. PPP leaders –Sherry Rehman, Nayyer Bokhari, Aajiz Dhamrah, Sassui Palijo, Zamarrud Khan, Sheikh Hameed, Malik Zaheer, Asad Abbasi, Shahid Mughal – were present while the petitions were being filed.