Benazir murder case: Mark Siegel baulks at testifying in person
US journalist cites ‘security concerns’; requests video link to record his statement against Musharraf.
Mark Siegel. PHOTO: FILE
RAWALPINDI:
American Journalist Mark Siegel, who is a key witness in the Benazir Bhutto murder case, has refused to come to Pakistan to record his statement before an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) citing security concerns.
An ATC on January 6 had directed Siegel, who was also a close friend and the speech writer of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, to appear in person before the court as a prosecution witness against former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf.
According to an earlier statement of Siegel, which he had recorded before a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) under Section 161, Musharraf had threatened Benazir with “dire consequences” if she returned home before the 2008 elections.
Siegelalleged that Musharraf knew of the assassination plot and had personally ordered the destruction of evidence in the case.
Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali on Monday informed ATC Special Judge Chaudhry Habibur Rehman that due to “security reasons” Siegel was reluctant to come to Pakistan to record his statement. “After receiving the court summons, he expressed security concerns and is reluctant to appear in person before the court. He prefers to record his statement via a video link,” said Zulfiqar.
However, Siegel did not specify what kind of threats he was anticipating if he appeared in person. The FIA prosecutor informed the court that Siegel expressed concern and said that in the current circumstances it is not possible to come to Pakistan to record his statement.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor submitted an application before the ATC under Article 164 of Qanoon-i-Shahadat 1984 (Evidence Law) seeking to record his statement through video links.
In his application, Zulfiqar maintained that since Siegel had now refused to come to Pakistan, he requested the court to record his statement through video link.
“There is a precedent in history [Mansoor Ejaz],” he said.
“Siegel is an important witness and it is essential to record his statement. If any witness refuses to come physically before the court, the practice of video link could be adopted in order to speed up the investigation,” he argued.
The court admitted his application and issued notices to respondents for January 18.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2013.
American Journalist Mark Siegel, who is a key witness in the Benazir Bhutto murder case, has refused to come to Pakistan to record his statement before an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) citing security concerns.
An ATC on January 6 had directed Siegel, who was also a close friend and the speech writer of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, to appear in person before the court as a prosecution witness against former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf.
According to an earlier statement of Siegel, which he had recorded before a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) under Section 161, Musharraf had threatened Benazir with “dire consequences” if she returned home before the 2008 elections.
Siegelalleged that Musharraf knew of the assassination plot and had personally ordered the destruction of evidence in the case.
Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali on Monday informed ATC Special Judge Chaudhry Habibur Rehman that due to “security reasons” Siegel was reluctant to come to Pakistan to record his statement. “After receiving the court summons, he expressed security concerns and is reluctant to appear in person before the court. He prefers to record his statement via a video link,” said Zulfiqar.
However, Siegel did not specify what kind of threats he was anticipating if he appeared in person. The FIA prosecutor informed the court that Siegel expressed concern and said that in the current circumstances it is not possible to come to Pakistan to record his statement.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor submitted an application before the ATC under Article 164 of Qanoon-i-Shahadat 1984 (Evidence Law) seeking to record his statement through video links.
In his application, Zulfiqar maintained that since Siegel had now refused to come to Pakistan, he requested the court to record his statement through video link.
“There is a precedent in history [Mansoor Ejaz],” he said.
“Siegel is an important witness and it is essential to record his statement. If any witness refuses to come physically before the court, the practice of video link could be adopted in order to speed up the investigation,” he argued.
The court admitted his application and issued notices to respondents for January 18.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2013.