Benazir assassination case: ATC summons Mark Siegel on Jan 5
An anti-terrorism court on Saturday summoned six prosecution witnesses – including US author Mark Siegel – to record statements against former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case.
At a hearing at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Saturday, counsels for the prosecution and defence concluded their arguments after cross-examination of two witnesses, Magistrate Ahmed Masood Janjua and SHO Aijaz Shah.
According to Siegel, Musharraf had threatened Benazir with “dire consequences” if she returned home before the 2008 election.
Siegel, a key prosecution witness who had known Benazir since 1984, claims that Benazir had received a telephone call from Musharraf in his (Siegel) presence and told her that he would not be responsible for her security if she returned before the election. He alleges that Musharraf knew of the assassination plot and had personally ordered the destruction of evidence.
Benazir was assassinated outside Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh on Dec 27, 2007.
Special Judge ATC-I Habibur Rehman also issued summons to former principal of Rawalpindi Medical College Dr Musadaq Khan, former senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rawalpindi Yasin Farooq, former superintendent police (SP) Ashfaq Anwar and Rescue 1122 In-charge Dr Abdur Rehman.
The hearing was subsequently adjourned until January 5.
Siegel, who also wrote speeches for Benazir, said he received an email from the former premier on October 26, 2007 which contained the names of people who she held responsible if another attempt was made on her life, according to his testimony submitted to the FIA.
In later email exchanges between Benazir and Siegel, the former premier directed him to make public the information she had sent if she died in Pakistan. “Later, I forwarded the email to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer to make it public at suitable time and had last conversation with Benazir on December 23, 2007 on my date of birth and found her upset,” according to Siegel’s statement.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2012.
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If you won't pursue the killers of a national hero, former 2 term prime minister and wife of the President of Pakistan then no wonder you don't pursue the terrorist who massacre the common citizens of Pakistan. Shame on you.
LOL! elections are near, the timing is awesome since the PPP will have something to get sympathy on. Unfortunately the educated people are not educated enough to use their right to vote and throw out these so-called representatives of the masses.
ONE DAY spent on voting is better than 5 YEARS of crying on the kind of people that form the Government.
Mark Siegel has a lot more credibility than shady shifty Mansoor Ijaz who have always written and talked against Pakistan. Let the court examine the evidence and make the decision based upon facts.