Mark Siegel’s testimony: Commissioner directed to prepare video conference facility

ATC records statement of City police inspector

RAWALPINDI: The hearing of the Benazir Bhutto murder case on Monday was adjourned till September 28 after recording statement of a witness.

According to the details, Anti-Terrorist Court (ATC) Judge Muhammd Ayub Marth, while hearing the case, issued orders to the relevant staff for writing a letter to the Rawalpindi commissioner for arrangement of the video-conferencing facility to record the statement of Mark Siegel from the US.

At the case’s hearing on September 14, the interior ministry presented a letter by Seigel in which he expressed willingness to record his statement in the case on October 1.

The testimony, which was earlier scheduled for August 27, was delayed due to Seigel’s ill health. The author, however, said he is fit and ready to record his statement on October 1. The letter was made a part of the case record.

Investigators had included Siegel’s name in the list of prosecution witnesses to use his testimony against former president Pervez Musharraf. Siegel was a close friend of the slain former premier and chief of the Pakistan Peoples Party.

The ATC had summoned Siegel but he had refused to travel to Pakistan citing security reasons. He, however, had agreed to record his statement.

During the hearing on Monday, former inspector at the City Police Station in Rawalpindi, Kashif Riaz, recorded his statement before the special court. The judge then adjourned the hearing due to incomplete provision of evidence till September 28.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2015.