BB’s driver: Non-bailable arrest warrants issued

US embassy informs special court it is waiting for Mark Siegel's reply

RAWALPINDI: A special anti-terrorism court hearing Benazir Bhutto’s murder case issued non-bailable arrest warrants on Wednesday for the driver of the former premier on the day of her assassination, Javaidur Rehman and also summoned four witnesses to record their statement in the next hearing of the case.

Another witness in the case, former political agent of Mohmand Agency Bhalol Khan, for whom the court had ordered arrest warrants owing to his non-appearance, appeared in court and also recorded his statement. He told the court that one of the two suicide bombers who allegedly killed the former premier, Abdullah alias Saddam, was his younger brother and a student of Darul Uloom Haqqania, Akora Khattak. Khan said his brother was an absconder in the case and was later killed in an encounter with law-enforcement agencies in DI Khan. Khan added he identified his brother’s body after his death.

Read: BB murder case: Despite warrants, witnesses fail to appear in court

During the hearing, a director from the US embassy, Shakib Rafique, informed the court that the embassy has written to US journalist Mark Siegel asking him whether he wants to come to Pakistan to record his statement or do it via video link. Rafique said they would keep the court updated on Siegel’s reply. Siegel is considered a key witness in the case owing to his close relationship with the former Pakistan Peoples Party leader.

Moreover, witnesses Sub-inspector (SI) Nawaz and SI Iftikhar have been excused from appearing in the case by the prosecution.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2015.