Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
In an investigation report submitted by FIA Joint Investigation Team (JIT) Head Deputy Director Khalid Rasool in the Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) Rawalpindi, Musharraf was held responsible for the security breach that led to Bhutto's assassination.
The report claimed that the former president wanted to secure his government by assassinating Bhutto.
Some sources claimed that the FIA held Musharraf responsible in light of the statement released by American journalist, Mark Siegel.
Bhutto had sent an email to Siegel claiming that if she were killed Musharraf, former chief minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, former DG IB Ijaz Shah and another officer of the intelligence agency would be responsible.
Musharraf has been summoned by Special Judge Chaudhry Habibur Rehman to appear before the court on July 2.
However, the trial court accepted Barrister Salman Safdar's plea of granting exemption to Musharraf from making a personal appearance before the court owing to security threat.
The court still hasn't presented its verdict on the plea asking for permanent exemption for the former president.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Musharraf council, Barrister Safdar said, "The prosecution is adamant to proceed against the former president but this exercise would only result in his acquittal.”
Safdar said that out of 141 witnesses only Siegel's testimony is being used to justify the prosecution even though he has refused to appear and testify in the court.
Safdar also said that the allegations in the challan were politically motivated which did not substantiate the link between the former president and the assassination of Bhutto.
It is illogical that FIA holds him responsible at one place but has acquitted him from the Karsaz incident, he said.
Security of Special Public Prosecutor
City Police Officer submitted its stance before the court with respect to the security issue of FIA Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar Ali, who is contesting the case after the brutal murder of former special public prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali.
In his reply, CPO informed the court that police could provide security cover to Chaudhry Azhar Ali from Benazir Bhutto International Airport to the court.
COMMENTS (24)
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@expaki - you mean to say that army is supposed to be waiting round the clock in all odds (be it rainy day, earthquake, winter, etc.) for your order(s) like maid-servant/sweeper to carry out silently and you the politician pass the law for your safety, looting/plundering the exchequer of the state in various names and what not you have not been doing for the last so many years. Even the very last day (Saturday) of was kept all banks including SBP open by the previous govt to transfer money to their respective accounts and you took no notice and till today you are silent being the biggest opposition party, which has the same duties / obligations like the govt of the day. I think you will still have your good reasons/law to pass by the present assembly like every time.
@Son of Army Officer: this titles like Son, Brother or any thing else, does not effect or impress anyone any more. your father chose to be gaurd at borders. we paid him - pay him. Anyone in army, police etc is FAITH bind to protect borders. NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS.
What a great country Pakistan has become, thanks to Allah I left this land of pure 22 years ago for good, no regret.
@nadir WHY cant a general be put on trial? He broke the laws of the land. These generals have led us for 40 odd years and it is because of them that we are here. lost wars, captured land, huge chunks of budgets. what have they done right?
Once again the true patriotic leader being in trouble. Grand alliance against Musharraf is the evidence of our caste loving majority.
These officials are giving keen interest in Musharraf cases, as being a citizen I would like to ask where were your findings and investigations on the everyday killings & blasts in Karachi? Where are your investigations against killing of NAB young officer who was handling Pervez ashraf case? if you peoples are delivering your true job then how dare these terrorists destroyed peace in Pakistan and show their smiley faces on news?
Musharraf is a great leader!
@abc: He is alo the killer of Akbar Bugti and Lal Masjid pupils.
So the credit goes to Musharraf. Does anyone else has the courage to kill the terrorists?
Is there any honesty left in Pakistan in the media, government, politicians, lawyers, judges, federal prosecutors? I mean, the FIA before, UN investigation, Scotland Yard, all have stated the taliban were behind BB's murder. And now FIA says Musharraf is the primary suspect. Dishonest and disrespectful. No wonder Pakistan is the 2nd least respected country in the world.
@abc: Military actions against criminals are not murder. You are supporting Bugti, the self proclaimed mass murder, and the Lal Masjid terrorists, both of whom took up arms against the state and its army? It is this mentality that has brought Pakistan to where it is today.
@abc:
Not ordinary pupils, but combatants who had raised arms against the state.
@expaki, I think @Nadir is being sarcastic.
@ Noman Ansari. Agree with you 100%. What a sad country Pakistan has become. The terrorists who actually killed BB are running free, I hear of no cases against them in courts or even the sorry media talking about them, while the one honest leader during whose time Pakistan flourished and was respected around the world, is being charged with BB's murder on political grounds rather than facts. Similarly, the Bugti clan of terrorists are free while the courts and police are busy chasing Musharraf. What a sad sad sad place Pakistan has become.
How sad. On one hand you are prosecuting the man who fought the Taliban and other extremists, while the people who actually killed Benazir, are being negotiated with.
@Nadir: "People of Pakistan must apologise to Army for voting for these politicans who dare put General on trial" Nadir Sahib, I remember army eating with hands, but after reading your comment, I feel our army now much advanced and uses CHAMCHAAY too.
Yes he was also responsible for the earthquack in northern areas. Today I am ashamed to be a Pakistani. I never thought they can go so low. I have no faith left on future of Pakistan looking at this nauesaiting/sickening drama. History will judge the present leaders, army chief and judiciary in worst possible terms.
When Musharraf was President of Pakistan, all FIA staff right from top to bottom use to salute him, but now Musharraf is in custody, all fingers are pointing at him.
After all FIA officials also have to save their skins from the present government.
Until Musharraf was President, he was a very good man, doing lot of good things for the country, but since ever he came back to Pakistan and taken into custody, he has become a very bad man.
There are always two sides of the picture.
Now people are looking the other side of the picture.
This is called life.
Involvement of General in all the trials is absolutely on political grouds
I think is the second biggest joke I have heard this week, the first being the trial of Musharraf for treason. If this is true, then Musharraf is the most incompetent planner that he got Benazir killed, then lost in election and therefore he had to give up his army position and his presidency! Pakistan was always a lawless country and this shows at every level.
Provide him with utmost security but he should come before the court, he has already said that he felt insulted when he appeared before a judge like he considers himself above the law. It will be tantamount to trampling the laws of the land if any court grants him permanent exemption to appear before the court. It is ironical how he treated the judges and now he expects the same judges to treat like he is above the law. I say what goes around comes around, he should have thought about it when he did all these shenanigans. Time has come to face the music now.
Every ruler is responsible of all the criminals killed during his period.
If Musharraf is guilty in BB's murder then Nawaz Sharif is responsible in foreign tourists' killing. Arrest him too and then Zardari too for all those who got killed in his tenure. Justice is the biggest joke in this country.
He is alo the killer of Akbar Bugti and Lal Masjid pupils.
People of Pakistan must apologise to Army for voting for these politicans who dare put General on trial.
F I A = Fully Incompetent Agency !!!