Pervez Musharraf denies accusations of Rehman Malik

Rejecting Rehman Malik’s charges of his involvement in Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, Former President Pervez Musharraf said security was mainly the responsibility of the provincial government and matters relating to her primary security were handled by PPP activists.

He was reacting to statements made by Interior Minister Rehman Malik in the Sindh Assembly in which Malik said that the former president did not provide Benazir adequate security and was threatened by her.

The former leader claimed that he had telephoned former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and informed her of the threats she faced. He clarified, “Benazir did not consider me to be a threat”.

The APML chief raised the question regarding who had asked Benazir Bhutto to come out of the sun roof of the jeep she was traveling in prior to her assassination. He further said that he had met Benazir twice in Dubai but had not spoken to her since October 18.

According to the TV report, Gen Musharraf had informed Bhutto about the likely threats to her life in case she returned to Pakistan before the 2008 elections. Benazir, he said, wanted to get cases against her withdrawn – and this is precisely what was done.

About his return, Musharraf said he was willing to face the courts. He reiterated that he was being wrongly implicated in the assassination case as he had no role to play in the tragedy.

Earlier, a joint investigation reported made public by Rehman Malik claimed that former president Pervez Musharraf was not only aware of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination plan, but he also aided and abetted the terrorists who carried it out.

The report further claimed that Musharraf would have been the main beneficiary from the elimination of Benazir and her party’s failure during the 2008 elections, without her leadership. His government consciously refused VVIP security to Benazir, despite repeated requests.

The report reads, “Thus an insecure environment was intentionally created to ensure elimination of Benazir Bhutto by terrorists”.

A couple of police officials in the report including former city police officer Saud Aziz and former superintendent police Khurram Shahzad were also being accused for being part of a wider conspiracy.

The report explains, “Aziz deliberately avoided conducting the post mortem, in an attempt to obstruct and impede investigation”.

The concluding remarks of the report stated that the fact that no departmental or judicial inquiry was ordered by any government post Benazir’s assassination makes it clearly evident that conspirators had assurances and support of the then-president and the government.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Feb 22 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.