imemyself89
MPA (400+ posts)
Although the UN Commission inquiry report into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto has cleared her spouse Asif Zardari, it has unambiguously mentioned that he was deeply involved in preparing the security plan of the former Pakistani prime minister on her return to Pakistan on October 18, 2007 after about a decade in exile.
The Fact Finding Commission of the UN could not go any further as it did not have the mandate to point out any suspect or declare anybody innocent. However, it is evident that this aspect of the report has not been given due attention.
The report says that Zardari deputed his close aides Rehman Malik, Zulfiqar Mirza and Agha Durrani for implementation of the security plan prepared by him, something which negates the claim of Malik, who is currently interior minister, that he was not responsible for her physical safety or security.
However, the UN Commission report has left the crucial point unanswered whether this deep involvement of Zardari in preparing the security plan for Bhutto had any positive or negative implications.
Zardari, Bhuttos husband, was deeply involved in planning of Bhuttos security for her return to Pakistan. Bhutto and Zardari relied to a significant extent on persons close to them to plan and organise the Pakistan Peoples Partys security for her. They included former senior Federal Investigation Agency official Rehman Malik and Sindh PPP leaders Zulfikar Mirza and Agha Durrani, the UN commission says in paragraph 64 of its report.
Malik described his role to the commission as Bhuttos national security adviser, and not her physical security adviser. He also liaised with the federal authorities on behalf of Bhutto and participated as her representative in negotiations with General Musharraf and his aides. However, most PPP leaders understood Maliks role as encompassing all aspects of Bhuttos security. Many also said that he co-ordinated with Bhuttos protection detail, including with Major Imtiaz and Tauqir Kaira.
The Commission finds that, in addition to what Malik himself described, he performed a significant role in the overall management of Bhuttos security. His letters to the authorities regarding threat warnings and requesting specific security support reflect this involvement, mentions paragraph 65 of the UN report.
The Commission also criticised the suspicious role of riders of the back up vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz, including Rehman Malik, Babar Awan, Gen (R) Tauqeer Zia and Farhatullah Babar, in sub-section-vii of paragraph 259. Their irresponsible and hasty conduct contributed towards the death of Bhutto.
The UN Commission report says that: The additional security arrangements of the PPP lacked leadership and were inadequate and poorly executed. The Commission recognises the heroism of individual PPP supporters, many of whom sacrificed themselves to protect Bhutto. However, Bhutto was left vulnerable in a severely damaged vehicle that was unable to transport her to the hospital by the irresponsible and hasty departure of the bullet-proof Mercedes-Benz which, as the back-up vehicle, was an essential part of her convoy.
The UN Commissions report will top the agenda in the National Assembly in its session commencing tommorw.
The discussion would be significant as serious allegations of criminal negligence and conspiracy had been levelled against close aides of the deceased leader.
The protocol officer of Bhutto has accused two important federal ministers of their involvement in the murder. He is trying desperately to get the case registered against the two.
Opposition leader Nawaz Sharifs Pakistan Muslim League-N will not be on the front foot in opposing the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party of President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Gilani since the leadership of the two parties have mended fences for political gains but other major groups in the opposition are likely to demand immediate dismissal of the ministers who have been implicated in the killing of the partys leader.
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topi...=357277&version=1&template_id=41&parent_id=23
The Fact Finding Commission of the UN could not go any further as it did not have the mandate to point out any suspect or declare anybody innocent. However, it is evident that this aspect of the report has not been given due attention.
The report says that Zardari deputed his close aides Rehman Malik, Zulfiqar Mirza and Agha Durrani for implementation of the security plan prepared by him, something which negates the claim of Malik, who is currently interior minister, that he was not responsible for her physical safety or security.
However, the UN Commission report has left the crucial point unanswered whether this deep involvement of Zardari in preparing the security plan for Bhutto had any positive or negative implications.
Zardari, Bhuttos husband, was deeply involved in planning of Bhuttos security for her return to Pakistan. Bhutto and Zardari relied to a significant extent on persons close to them to plan and organise the Pakistan Peoples Partys security for her. They included former senior Federal Investigation Agency official Rehman Malik and Sindh PPP leaders Zulfikar Mirza and Agha Durrani, the UN commission says in paragraph 64 of its report.
Malik described his role to the commission as Bhuttos national security adviser, and not her physical security adviser. He also liaised with the federal authorities on behalf of Bhutto and participated as her representative in negotiations with General Musharraf and his aides. However, most PPP leaders understood Maliks role as encompassing all aspects of Bhuttos security. Many also said that he co-ordinated with Bhuttos protection detail, including with Major Imtiaz and Tauqir Kaira.
The Commission finds that, in addition to what Malik himself described, he performed a significant role in the overall management of Bhuttos security. His letters to the authorities regarding threat warnings and requesting specific security support reflect this involvement, mentions paragraph 65 of the UN report.
The Commission also criticised the suspicious role of riders of the back up vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz, including Rehman Malik, Babar Awan, Gen (R) Tauqeer Zia and Farhatullah Babar, in sub-section-vii of paragraph 259. Their irresponsible and hasty conduct contributed towards the death of Bhutto.
The UN Commission report says that: The additional security arrangements of the PPP lacked leadership and were inadequate and poorly executed. The Commission recognises the heroism of individual PPP supporters, many of whom sacrificed themselves to protect Bhutto. However, Bhutto was left vulnerable in a severely damaged vehicle that was unable to transport her to the hospital by the irresponsible and hasty departure of the bullet-proof Mercedes-Benz which, as the back-up vehicle, was an essential part of her convoy.
The UN Commissions report will top the agenda in the National Assembly in its session commencing tommorw.
The discussion would be significant as serious allegations of criminal negligence and conspiracy had been levelled against close aides of the deceased leader.
The protocol officer of Bhutto has accused two important federal ministers of their involvement in the murder. He is trying desperately to get the case registered against the two.
Opposition leader Nawaz Sharifs Pakistan Muslim League-N will not be on the front foot in opposing the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party of President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Gilani since the leadership of the two parties have mended fences for political gains but other major groups in the opposition are likely to demand immediate dismissal of the ministers who have been implicated in the killing of the partys leader.
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topi...=357277&version=1&template_id=41&parent_id=23
