Benazir Bhutto Murder case: Rehman Malik blames Musharraf for security lapse

Anti-terrorism court takes former president into judicial remand.


Fawad Ali/umer Nangiana May 01, 2013
Former interior minister Rehman Malik. PHOTO: FILE

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: Former interior minister Rehman malik has once again blamed former president Pervez Musharraf for not providing sufficient security to the assassinated PPP leader.

In a statement recorded before the head of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Additional Director General Khalid Qureshi, Malik said he wrote multiple letters to Musharrafrequesting him to provide appropriate security to Benazir Bhutto.

“Malik was approached by the JIT after Musharraf’s recent statements were recorded during his physical remand,” said an official of the FIA. He added that the former president had earlier told Qureshi and his team of investigators that the government had already conveyed the risks and dangers involved in Benazir’s visit to LiaquatBagh on the day of her assassination.

Musharraf told the investigators that Malik had not only ignored the warning, but was not evenpresent when the bomb attack took place.

Malik has already been interrogated multiple times by different investigation officers on all aspects that came to fore during the probe. He maintained his stance that the incident that took Benazir’s life occurred due to a security lapse and blamedthe ‘Musharraf-led administration’ for it.

The recent interview with the JIT comes in response to Musharraf’s fresh statements accusing Malik of the security lapse and of notproperlybriefing the former premier on risks to her life.

In his latest statements, Malik has again denied the allegations. Hereiteratedhis stance saying that he had held meetings with GeneralMusharraf besides writing him multiple letters for Benazir’s security. He added that Benazirwas aware of the risks involved, but insisted on going to Liaquatbagh despite the threats.

The former president, whiledenying the allegations told the investigation team that Benazir had violated security protocol by coming out of her vehicle, which led to her assassination.

Judicial Remand

A special judge of the Anti Terrorism Court, Chaudhry Habibur Rehman, sent Pervez Musharraf on a 14-day judicial remand on Tuesday.

Musharraf was to be produced before the court by the end of his four-day physical remand butthe FIA filed an application to the trial court requesting it to extend his remand in light of threats to his life.

During the hearing, Ali and other investigators also informed the court that the investigation in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case was over and the agency did not want the court to extend his physical remand.

Accepting the application the court sent Musharraf on a 14-day judicial remand. The court also directed the investigation team to produce the former president before the court on May 3.

COMMENTS (7)

fazalkarim | 11 years ago | Reply

Blame for blame is not the answer to what happened in Liaqat Bagh that day. First of all BB is responsible for taking it to her own hands the security while showing herself out of the vehicle she was being driven. Secondly Mr Malik who was responsible for security to let it happen. Thirdly the government that failed to stop the programme at first place. All other options and rummers are nothing but waste of time.

sultan ahmed | 11 years ago | Reply

He was not arrested from the place of occurence, there is no recovery of crime weapon from him, FIR has been registered not by name, there are no eyewitnesses or circumstancial evidence.

He came from a foreign country,and produced himself before the court Medical evidence is a essential part of murder case,there is no P.M. report in the case file.

NO doubt, the person involved deserve to bail.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ