ATC wants US author, ISI operative’s statements in Benazir murder case

ATC-I Special Judge Rai Muhammad Ayub Marth, summoned eight witnesses again

RAWALPINDI:

An anti-terrorism court on Wednesday asked the head of the Joint Investigation Team probing former premier Benazir Bhutto’s murder to contact US author and prosecution witness Mark Seigel to ascertain how he can record a statement or appear before the court.

The court also sent a reminder to the head of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) to allow Ismail, an agency operative, to appear before the court for recording a statement.

ATC-I Special Judge Rai Muhammad Ayub Marth, while taking up the case at Adaila Jail, summoned eight witnesses again.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar Ali and other accused appeared before court.

FIA prosecutor informed the court that summons to five witnesses including Seigel and the ISI operative could not be served so far. He urged the court for issuance of fresh summons to them.

The judge also decided to hear the case daily.

The FIA prosecutor, when contacted, confirmed the development.

“At the hearing, I repeated the statements of four witnesses while the court also summoned five witnesses again,” he said.

Former CPO Syed Saud Aziz, former Rawal Division SP Khurram Shehzad, five accused Aitzaz Shah, Rafaqat Hussain, Hussnain Gull, Abdul Rashid and Sher Zaman were present in the courtroom during the proceedings.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2015.