Pakistani Court Indicts Musharraf in 2007 Assassination of Bhutto

[Vikrant]

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — In a sudden erosion of military privilege and impunity, a Pakistani court indicted the former ruler Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday in connection with the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto — the first time that such a senior general has faced criminal charges.

...

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/21/w...usharraf-in-assassination-of-bhutto.html?_r=0

 

[waltky]

Two different versions from the same source - which one is true?

Musharraf threatened Benazir, testifies American journo Mark Seigel
Oct 3, 2015: Mark Seigel, American journalist and a key witness in the murder case of former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto, has recorded his statement before a Pakistan anti-terrorism court through video link that general Pervez Musharraf had warned that her safety would depend on the state of their relationship.

Seigel told the antiterrorism court in Rawalpindi that Benazir had a 15-minute telephone conversation with Musharraf on September 25, 2007, which she later described as a very "bad call" — just three weeks before her return to the country. "She (Benazir) showed me the name of Musharraf on phone screen when he was calling," Seigel said. After receiving the call, he said, Benazir seemed very disturbed and was trembling with rage. "She was very upset," he added. The American journalist said Musharraf told Benazir that her life was in danger and her involvement in political activities in Pakistan will be at her own responsibility.

Moreover, according to Seigel, Musharraf told Benazir, "Your security is dependent on the relationship between us." Seigel said the conversation took place in his presence in the Washington office of US senator Tom Lantos. His statement was recorded at Pakistan embassy in Washington DC on Thursday at about 8pm. Seigel further said that Benazir had sent him an email on October 23, 2007, just weeks before her assassination, expressing her sense of insecurity.

In that email, she wrote that if something happened to her, Musharraf would be responsible for it. Besides Musharraf, she also mentioned other individuals, including former ISI chief General Hamid Gul, ex-chief of Intelligence Bureau Ijaz Shah and former Punjab CM Pervez Ilahi, in that email. Seigel told the court that Benazir also wrote a letter to Musharraf informing him that his top officers were planning to kill her. She was killed on December 27, 2007, after addressing a pre-election rally at Rawalpindi. Her murder case has been lingering on for eight years. The hearing into Bhutto's murder case will resume on October 5.

Musharraf threatened Benazir, testifies American journo Mark Seigel - The Times of India

See also:

Musharraf warned Benazir against coming to Pakistan in 2007: Mark Seigel
Oct 2, 2015: The American journalist, lobbyist and key witness in the murder case of ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Mark Seigel, has said that former military ruler Pervez Musharraf had warned the slain leader, three weeks ahead of her return into the country in 2007, that her safety in Pakistan would depend on the state of their relationship.

In a recorded statement before Pakistan's anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi through video link, the American journalist claimed that on September 25, 2007, in his presence in Washington in the office of US Senator Tom Lantos, Benazir Bhutto had received a 15-minute telephone call from Musharraf which she later described as a very 'bad call'. His statement was recorded at Pakistan's embassy in Washington DC on Thursday at about 8:00 pm. While recording his statement, Seigel, who had been in close contact with Benazir Bhutto since 1984, broke into tears as he spoke about her.

"She showed me the name of Musharraf on phone screen when he was calling," Seigel claimed. After receiving the call, he said, Benazir seemed very disturbed and was trembling in anger. "She was very upset," he added. The American journalist said Musharraf told Benazir that her life was in danger and her involvement in political activities in Pakistan will be her own responsibility. Moreover, according to Seigel, Musharraf told Benazir, "Your security is dependent on the relationship between us."

Siegel further said that Benazir had sent him an email on Oct 23, 2007, expressing her sense of insecurity. In that email, she wrote that if something happened to her, Musharraf would be responsible for it. Besides Musharraf, she also mentioned other individuals, including former ISI chief General Hamid Gul, ex-chief of Intelligence Bureau Ijaz Shah and former Punjab CM Pervez Ilahi, in the email. He told the court that Ms Bhutto also wrote a letter to Musharraf informing him that his top officers were planning to kill her. Benazir Bhutto was killed on Dec 27, 2007 after addressing a pre-election rally at Rawalpindi. Her murder case has been lingering on for eight years. The hearing into her murder case will be resumed on October 5.

Musharraf warned Benazir against coming to Pakistan in 2007: Mark Seigel - The Times of India

 

[Vikrant]

^ Musharraf was definitely involved in her murder. That is the one version which rings true for sure.

 

[waltky]

Journalist Mark Siegal points the finger at Musharraf in Bhutto assassination...

Pervez Musharraf was responsible for Benazir Bhutto's assassination: American journalist Mark Siegel
Oct 17, 2015: Pakistan's former military dictator Pervez Musharraf was responsible for the assassination of ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto because she had informed him of the death threats she was facing, a top American journalist has said in his testimony in the case.

In his four-page statement recorded on October 1, American journalist and lobbyist Mark Siegel said that an intelligence agency of a Gulf country had traced a phone call in which plans to murder Bhutto were discussed. According to that phone call, three accomplices of Musharraf were part of that plan, Siegal said in his statement recorded before anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi through a video link from the Pakistan embassy in Washington.

Musharraf, 72, was responsible for the murder of Bhutto because she had informed him of the death threats being faced by her, he was quoted as saying by Geo News. The US journalist also stated that Bhutto had requested Musharraf to be allowed to bring a foreign security team to Pakistan. The former president dismissed her request for a foreign security team and cars with tinted windows. Siegel in his statement further said he had learnt that mobile jammers provided for Bhutto's security during the Karsaz tragedy were not operational.

Bhutto, the former two-time prime minister, was killed in December 2007 in a bomb attack in Rawalpindi when Musharraf was president of the country. Musharraf has been indicted as one of the accused in the case. The ex-general has rejected the charges against him. Siegel's testimony is considered as important to conclude the trial of case which has been going on for years. Musharraf ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008. He faces several cases. He is not allowed to leave the country.

Pervez Musharraf was responsible for Benazir Bhutto's assassination: American journalist Mark Siegel - The Times of India

 

[Vikrant]

Journalist Mark Siegal points the finger at Musharraf in Bhutto assassination...

Pervez Musharraf was responsible for Benazir Bhutto's assassination: American journalist Mark Siegel
Oct 17, 2015: Pakistan's former military dictator Pervez Musharraf was responsible for the assassination of ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto because she had informed him of the death threats she was facing, a top American journalist has said in his testimony in the case.

In his four-page statement recorded on October 1, American journalist and lobbyist Mark Siegel said that an intelligence agency of a Gulf country had traced a phone call in which plans to murder Bhutto were discussed. According to that phone call, three accomplices of Musharraf were part of that plan, Siegal said in his statement recorded before anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi through a video link from the Pakistan embassy in Washington.

Musharraf, 72, was responsible for the murder of Bhutto because she had informed him of the death threats being faced by her, he was quoted as saying by Geo News. The US journalist also stated that Bhutto had requested Musharraf to be allowed to bring a foreign security team to Pakistan. The former president dismissed her request for a foreign security team and cars with tinted windows. Siegel in his statement further said he had learnt that mobile jammers provided for Bhutto's security during the Karsaz tragedy were not operational.

Bhutto, the former two-time prime minister, was killed in December 2007 in a bomb attack in Rawalpindi when Musharraf was president of the country. Musharraf has been indicted as one of the accused in the case. The ex-general has rejected the charges against him. Siegel's testimony is considered as important to conclude the trial of case which has been going on for years. Musharraf ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008. He faces several cases. He is not allowed to leave the country.

Pervez Musharraf was responsible for Benazir Bhutto's assassination: American journalist Mark Siegel - The Times of India

Musharraf's fingerprints were all over it.

 

[Sally]

Journalist Mark Siegal points the finger at Musharraf in Bhutto assassination...

Pervez Musharraf was responsible for Benazir Bhutto's assassination: American journalist Mark Siegel
Oct 17, 2015: Pakistan's former military dictator Pervez Musharraf was responsible for the assassination of ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto because she had informed him of the death threats she was facing, a top American journalist has said in his testimony in the case.

In his four-page statement recorded on October 1, American journalist and lobbyist Mark Siegel said that an intelligence agency of a Gulf country had traced a phone call in which plans to murder Bhutto were discussed. According to that phone call, three accomplices of Musharraf were part of that plan, Siegal said in his statement recorded before anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi through a video link from the Pakistan embassy in Washington.

Musharraf, 72, was responsible for the murder of Bhutto because she had informed him of the death threats being faced by her, he was quoted as saying by Geo News. The US journalist also stated that Bhutto had requested Musharraf to be allowed to bring a foreign security team to Pakistan. The former president dismissed her request for a foreign security team and cars with tinted windows. Siegel in his statement further said he had learnt that mobile jammers provided for Bhutto's security during the Karsaz tragedy were not operational.

Bhutto, the former two-time prime minister, was killed in December 2007 in a bomb attack in Rawalpindi when Musharraf was president of the country. Musharraf has been indicted as one of the accused in the case. The ex-general has rejected the charges against him. Siegel's testimony is considered as important to conclude the trial of case which has been going on for years. Musharraf ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008. He faces several cases. He is not allowed to leave the country.

Pervez Musharraf was responsible for Benazir Bhutto's assassination: American journalist Mark Siegel - The Times of India

Musharraf's fingerprints were all over it.

I knew a man whose family was very tight with the Bhutto family, and when the Bhutto family came back into power, Syed took his wife and kids back to Pakistan. I often wonder what happened to this family and if they are safe. Every morning when I go downstairs, I can see the dining room set I bought from them when they were moving and think about Syed, his wife, and the three children who are all grown up by now. So much turbulence in Pakistan that you don't know who is safe.