On 10th death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, his son and incumbent Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari once again accused Musharraf of involvement in Benazir Bhutto’s death. He reiterated the party’s concerns that late Benazir Bhutto had warned of Musharraf’s involvement in plots to assassinate her.
The former president Pervez Musharraf responded the accusation in a harsh manner, asking Bilawal to ‘first become a man’ before leveling blames on him. These are inappropriate words, particularly from a person who was President of the country, but this was not the first time as Musharraf had used similar statements in the past based on sexism. Once he went on to say that few women in Pakistan get themselves raped to get a foreign visa. Musharraf further claimed in an interview that ‘rogue elements’ within the military establishment could have been involved in Benazir’s murder. A female political leader with liberal, secular leanings would be a logical target for militants, Musharraf has asserted. Answering a question in a recent press conference of DG ISPR Maj Gen Ghafoor denied the existence of rogue elements in the military and emphasised the sanctity of the chain of command. Musharraf should not stir unnecessary controversy and if he wants to explain anything best way is to come to Pakistan and face courts.
On the other side PPP Chairman should not indulge in leveling accusation, especially when government of PPP did not investigate Musharraf and instead gave him a safe exit from Pakistan. Co-chairman of PPP Asif Ali Zardari during his presidency days had claimed multiple times that he knew who the killers of Benazir were, yet no names were revealed. Accusations from PPP leadership now seem too hollow because PPP government could not bring the killers to book during its five-year term. Leaders of PPP should understand that memory of Benazir Bhutto deserves better and probably leveling same accusations every year is not the best way to give tribute to a charismatic leader.
Ten years down the road, the prime suspects behind her assassination have not been brought to justice. Of late, an anti-terrorism court acquitted five suspects and awarded imprisonment of 17 years to two police officers in the assassination case of Benazir Bhutto. The investigation into the case has remained unsatisfactory.