Benazir’s assassin was killed in drone strike, claims Kaira

Says those involved in the PPP leader’s assassination are facing an ‘open trial’.

SUKKUR:

Addressing critics who have claimed Benazir Bhutto’s murderers were still at large, Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has said a key suspect in the former premier’s assassination case was killed in a drone strike.   

Talking to media at the Sukkur Airport before his departure to Garhi Khuda Bux, he responded to concerns regarding the government’s lack of action against Benazir’s assassins saying they were facing an ‘open trial’.

He asserted that the elections will be held on time by May 16 and the care-taker setup will be installed after the assemblies complete their term.

Kaira said that Bilawal’s criticism of the judiciary included a candid opinion about the cases not being decided about by the court. The workers want a judgment on the judicial murder of ZA Bhutto, Kaira said.

Talking about the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) offers for dialogue with the government, Kaira said the government had no objections if the banned outfit was ready to operate within the limits of the Constitution.  The ceasefire conditions proposed by the TTP include redrawing the Constitution according to the Shariah.



Commenting on Minhajul Quran International chief Tahirul Qadri’s threats of a protest march towards Islamabad on January 14, Kaira said the former was welcome to hold a peaceful rally but the government would not allow anyone to take matters into their own hands. Regarding the care-taker set up, he said it will be formed after a thorough discussion with all political parties.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Khursheed Ahmed Shah, who also briefed journalists at the Sukkur Airport, echoed Kaira’s comments regarding dialogue with the TTP. While expressing willingness towards such an outcome, he made it clear that illegal and unconstitutional demands by anybody, including Qadri, would not be accepted by the government.

Meanwhile, he said the rally in Garhi Khuda Bux was neither a show of power nor a response to any other party’s rally.



“It is part of our tradition… We hold rallies on April 4 and December 27, there’s nothing new about this,” he maintained.

Dr Sagheer denies deal with Qadri

Speaking to the media at the Sukkur Airport, Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Raabta Committee member Dr Sagheer Ahmed denied any secret deal with Tahirul Qadri.

He maintained MQM’s offer of support for Qadri was simply part of politics. Meanwhile, talking about TTP’s offer for negotiation, he said it was for the government to decide the matter. Dr Sagheer added that MQM was a democratic party and will always welcome democratic parties. (With additional reporting by Z Ali)

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2012.