BB murder case: Musharraf may have to answer tricky questions

Rehman Malik to decide if the 32-page questi­onnair­e is to be amende­d.

ISLAMABAD: Former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf will have to answer some tricky questions that form the 32-page questionnaire that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) intends to send to him regarding the probe into the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.

According to the questionnaire, Musharraf will be asked about the chronology of events that took place before and after Bhutto was assassinated on December 27, 2007, while electioneering in Rawalpindi. He will be asked why he and his security apparatus failed to provide proper cover to Bhutto.

Official sources say that Musharraf’s responses to the questions could reveal information that can potentially change the course of the investigations.

The significant questions

The questionnaire, compiled by Mohammad Khalid Qureshi who is the chief of FIA’s Special Investigation Unit, carries eight significant questions:

1. Who were the participants of the meeting held at the Presidency on December 29, 2007? What crucial decisions were made about the probe of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination – mentioning the minutes of the meeting?

2. Who participated in the emergency meeting at the President House held soon after Benazir’s assassination on December 27, 2007? What do you (Musharraf) say?

3. Do you agree that no autopsy was performed as the crime scene was hosed down hurriedly?

4. Did you order Brigadier (retd) Javaid Iqbal to hold a press conference at the time of her assassination?

5. Did any foreign government or agency warn you about possible threats to Benazir Bhutto’s life? If yes, what measures were taken by your government?

6. It was learnt that Benazir Bhutto told you that you (Musharraf) would be responsible if she suffered any harm in Pakistan. What is your response to that?

7. Former prime ministers Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain and Shaukat Aziz were enjoying foolproof security as former premiers of the state but no such order was passed by you for Benazir Bhutto. Is this correct?

8. Did your government make any decision about increasing the security of Benazir Bhutto after her rally in Karachi on October 18, 2007?

Qureshi, on directions of Interior Minister Rehman Malik, prepared the questionnaire after the lapse of 11 months and later sent it to the interior ministry this week. A copy of the file was also sent to the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) accordingly.

Meanwhile, sources in the interior ministry told The Express Tribune that the final decision will be taken by Malik as to whether the questionnaire will be amended or sent in its current form to Musharraf.

An Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi is hearing the assassination case of Benazir Bhutto and proceedings have been taking place since January 2008. A charge sheet is expected to be filed against four other accused in the case on the next hearing, which is scheduled for December 4.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2010.