Musharraf hiding from courts: Sherry Rehman

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) vice president Sherry Rehman on Thursday appealed for swift justice for the murder of former prime minister and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto, according to a press statement issued by the party.

Speaking to the media outside Lahore High Court's Rawalpindi bench, Rehman told newsmen that today was the first hearing on the pleas submitted by former president Asif Ali Zardari in the Benazir Bhutto murder case.

"It has been 10 years since Benazir Bhutto’s assassination and we are still fighting for justice. We were not allowed to become party to the case this whole decade," she said.

She added that the PPP will go on every forum to appeal and fight for justice. 

"We will knock every door if that’s what it takes."

Former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf, in a video message on Thursday, blamed PPP co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari for the murder of his wife and former premier Benazir Bhutto.

In his "reply" to Zardari for naming him in the high-profile murder, Musharraf said he was especially addressing [Benazir and Zardari's children] Bilawal, Aseefa and Bakhtawar, as well as the Bhutto family and all Sindhis and Pakistanis who have been following "this murderer of Benazir."

Zardari behind Benazir, Murtaza Bhutto's murders: Musharraf

Former president releases video message in response to Asif Zardari's 'allegations'

"I believe that the reason for the Bhutto family’s demise and the responsible person for Benazir and Murtaza’s murder is Zardari. In any murder, it should be noted who benefits and who loses. I lost a lot from Benazir’s assassination while Zardari benefitted," the ex-army chief and former president said.

Rehman said the whole nation anxiously waited for this verdict with them, regardless of their political affiliation.

Responding to the allegations leveled by Pervez Musharraf against Asif Ali Zardari, the PPP senator said: "If Musharraf knew about Benazir Bhutto’s and Murtaza Bhutto's murderers then why was he quiet until now? Why didn't Musharraf speak up earlier when the UN Commission came? Musharraf was in power for 10 years in Pakistan so why did he not do anything for Murtaza Bhutto's case?"

"He [Musharraf] is worried now that questions will be asked about his role in her murder. This is a classic case of those guilty making more noise. We all know that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto specifically took Musharraf's name in her e-mail to Mark Seigel."

She went on to say that it had been 10 years since Benazir Bhutto died and somehow he [Musharraf] just woke up about who the murderers were.

"If Zardari wanted to run from the Benazir Bhutto's case then he would never have filed three appeals," Rehman noted, adding that whatever Musharraf has to say, he should say it in Pakistan.

"Why did Musharraf’s own people try to wash away evidence and cover up the crime? Who was involved in this conspiracy? These questions are very serious and should not be forgotten because we will always keep appealing until we achieve justice,” the PPP senator concluded.

'Musharraf fully involved in Benazir's murder'

Responding to Musharraf's allegations, Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah said they previously doubted, but now they believe that Musharraf got Benazir Bhutto assassinated, adding, "This is why he is sitting abroad after fleeing the country."

"If Asif Zardari and Baitullah Mehsud had been connected to the assassination, then why was it not revealed earlier," he questioned, demanding the former military ruler to provide evidence to substantiate his allegations.

"Hiding such a major thing shows that Musharraf is fully involved [in the murder]," the opposition leader.

Shah also urged the court to take notice of Musharraf's allegations and summon him.

Convicted cops challenge verdict

On September 11, the LHC's Rawalpindi bench approved for hearing appeals submitted by the two policemen convicted in the case.

Aziz and Khurram Shahzad were sentenced to 17 years each and ordered to pay a fine of Rs0.5 million each for their negligence in investigating the case properly. Shahzad was SP Rawal Town at the time of the incident.

The case was heard by LHC’s Justice Tariq Abbasi and Justice Habibullah Amir, who issued notices to the respondents and adjourned the hearing.

5 accused acquitted, 2 sentenced, Musharraf declared absconder in Benazir murder case

According to the verdict, the former policemen had been awarded 10 years in prison under Section 119 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and seven years under Section 201 of the PPC.

BB murder case

Bhutto, the PPP chief and two-time former prime minister, was assassinated in a suicide attack at an election campaign rally in Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh on December 27, 2007.

A FIR over the incident was registered on behalf of the state following which the murder trial of five suspects began in February of 2008. However, once PPP won the 2008 elections, the investigation was handed over to the FIA.

More than 300 hearings of the case were held, while over the course of time six judges were changed and seven challans submitted in the trial that began on February 29, 2008.