Benazir’s murder still remains a mystery as PPP observes her 5th death anniversary

Senior leaders of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) proudly say that their government has successfully completed five-year constitutional term. Top party leaders claim achievements, however, the people could not hear anything about the mystery still shrouds the 2007 assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

President Asif Ali Zardari had once announced that he knows those who had killed his spouse and would expose them but no one knows as to why he is silent and how long the mystery will remain unresolved.

The PPP had been lucky for having its own President and Prime Minister and could have carried out thorough investigations to unearth the conspiracy behind the murder of a great leader, who ruled Pakistan twice and had the honour of the first elected Prime Minister in the Muslim world.

The PPP leaders will gather at Benazir’s grave in Ghari Khuda Baksh in Sindh on Thursday and will pay homage to her in their speeches.

The Oxford-educated young PPP Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, is also set to formally launch his political life just few months ahead of the parliamentary elections. Naheed Khan, who served as political secretary to Benazir Bhutto, until her death, says BB was not in favour of her children join politics. However, the PPP needs a Bhutto to lead the election campaign and Bilawar is being considered as the best choice.

Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, promised this month that he will reveal the plot against Benazir Bhutto on her death anniversary. Let’s see what will come out of the mouth of Mr. Malik, who had been security in-charge of Benazir Bhutto when she was killed in a suicide attack and gunshots outside the historic Liaquat Bagh on December 27, 2007. Malik had left Benazir in a pool of blood. Malik had later told TV channels that Benazir was safe in he attack and reached a safe place. His this recorded statement was aired many times by a major Pakistani TV channel.

The Musharraf government was quick to blame then chief of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Baitullah Mehsood, the claim rejected by a TTP spokesman. The TTP had alleged that the security agencies were behind the incident as ‘Taliban do not target women’. Taliban’s notion was also disputed by many. Mehsood was later killed in a U.S. drone strike.

Musharraf had invited the British’s Scotland Yard police for their input about the high-profile murder. The PPP government then carried investigation by a UN team, despite opposition by certain quarters. The UN in its findings had pointed out the faulty security system for Benazir Bhutto and had also stated that the incident could have been avoided.

The Federal Investigative Agency (FIA), which is investigating the case, insists that Musharraf had failed to put in place a proper security mechanism for Benazir and the anti-terrorism court has issued arrest warrant for the former military President after he failed to appear and record his statement.

Khalid Qureshi, the FIA officer heading the investigation into Bhutto’s assassination, says Musharraf was named in the chargesheet. He had failed to provide the “VVIP security” that Bhutto was entitled to as a two-time former premier.

Bhuttos’ family friend and Benazir’s lobbyist, Mark Siegel says that he was with Benazir Bhutto in London, when Musharraf had threatened her if she decided to return home before the 2008 elections. The trial court has summoned Mr Siegel in the first week of January to record statement.

Benazir had returned to Pakistan on October 18, 2007, ending her years of exile, and hundreds of thousands received her at Karachi. Bombers had targeted the PPP supporters at her welcoming rally and killed over 150 people.

Musharraf insisted that it was not duty of the President to provide security to the former prime minister, claiming that he had warned Bhutto about threats to her life before the first attack.

He also claimed in May that Benazir’s killers were present in the government but the PPP was not serious in catching them.

The anti-terrorism court is conducting the trial of seven men accused of involvement in Bhutto’s assassination, who have denied any role in the attack. However the investigators say some of the suspects had facilitated the attackers.

Allegations and counter allegations are unfortunately part of political system but conspiracies to eliminate national leaders should not be politicized and all characters behind such plots must be exposed whoever they might have been.

Now all eyes are on the Thursday’s PPP gathering at the 5^th anniversary of Benazir Bhutto as to what the party leaders would say about the investigations and the murderers. The mystery will haunt the PPP if it fails to expose all those behind Benazir’s killing.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Dec 26 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.