UN commission to unveil report on Benazir’s murder today

[Interceptor]

UN commission to unveil report on Benazir’s murder today

UNITED NATIONS: A United Nations commission investigating the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto would unveil its findings today (Thursday), said a spokesman for the world body on Wednesday.

The spokesman said the three-member team would file its report with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon at “4.30pm local time on Thursday”, and he would then hand it over to Pakistani Ambassador to the UN Hussain Abdullah Haroon. The UN chief would also file the report with the Security Council.

After handing over the report to the UN chief, the head of the commission, the Chilean ambassador to the UN, would release the report at a press conference at 5:30pm, or 2:30 PST (Friday).

About suggestions by Pakistan for interviews of more internal figures – including Afghan President Hamid Karzai and former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice – the spokesman said the commission had told the UN secretary general that all relevant facts and circumstances had been explored, the report was complete and would not be changed. app

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...5-4-2010_pg7_4

[Selma Shirazi]

One think I'd like to know if Zardari still has diplomatic immunity. What if the outcome of the report shows foul play from him or any other partymember. Would he still be immune?

[Zaki]

Originally Posted by Selma Shirazi

One think I'd like to know if Zardari still has diplomatic immunity. What if the outcome of the report shows foul play from him or any other partymember. Would he still be immune?

I think it will create a similar situation of 1977. Army will coup and promise for another elections soon and god knows when that day will come :)

But one thing is certain, Mr Zardari and co will go home

[Selma Shirazi]

No dear, I don't think there will be another coup at this moment. If there's a vote of no confidence in the parliament Zardari would be sent home with Gilani still in power to authorise new elections within 90 days. I don't think Kiyani has political ambitions.

[Zaki]

Originally Posted by Selma Shirazi

No dear, I don't think there will be another coup at this moment. If there's a vote of no confidence in the parliament Zardari would be sent home with Gilani still in power to authorise new elections within 90 days. I don't think Kiyani has political ambitions.

indeed Kiyani has no intentions to fall this government if he wanted he had a golden chance during Judges movement. He will never do that but if the report is against Zardari his government will heavily be criticized all over Pakistan and the situation will be created to replace this government soon and whether Kayani wants or not he will become the centre of the government until new elections are held.

Pakistanis are emotional they are not that peaceful nation where if Zardari will not receive vote of confidence and Gilani can continue his power. They will send everybody home

[Selma Shirazi]

I think if Zardari is found guilty it could very well be the end of PPP in Pakistan which of course would also result in the fall of Gilani.
PML-Q and Imran's Tehreek-e-Insaf would be big winners in next elections.
I think the time is right for Musharraf to consider a political come back.

[Interceptor]

UN report finds ‘deliberate’ faults in BB’s murder probe

* Report creates impression army, intelligence have something to hide

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: The failure of Pakistani authorities to effectively investigate the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was “deliberate” and had been “severely hampered” by the country’s powerful intelligence agencies, a United Nations (UN) investigation report into the assassination concluded on Friday.

According to the New York Times, the 65-page report, issued in New York on Thursday, did not answer the question of who killed Benazir or the precise cause of death. It was concerned instead with looking into the facts and circumstances surrounding her death in a suicide bombing and gun attack at a political rally in December 2007.

Hiding: The report catalogued a litany of failings on the part of the local authorities before and after the attack that killed Benazir, leaving an impression of purposeful obstruction and raising questions of whether the “country’s military and intelligence establishment had something to hide”. The report criticised then Rawalpindi Chief Police Officer Saud Aziz’s role in the aftermath of the assassination, saying he made a series of decisions, which denied investigators valuable evidence, including to hose down the entire crime site just two hours after the attack. Investigators managed to collect just 23 pieces of evidence in a case that would typically have yielded thousands, the report highlighted.

It also called the inquiry conducted by the country itself, a “whitewash”.

Zardari not involved: The report in large part dismisses allegations that President Asif Ali Zardari had any hand in his wife, Benazir’s death, adding such conspiracy theories against the president “simply had no basis”.

Agents from the Inter-Services Intelligence were present at crucial points of the police investigation, including during the gathering of evidence at the crime scene and the forensic examination of Benazir’s vehicle, “playing a role that the police were reluctant to reveal to the commission,” the report said, referring to the UN panel.

It also pointed out former president Pervez Mushrraf’s failure to provide adequate security to a former head of state.

The report made no definitive judgement but it concluded, “No one believes that the 15-year-old suicide bomber acted alone.”

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...-4-2010_pg7_21

[Interceptor]

Originally Posted by Selma Shirazi

I think if Zardari is found guilty it could very well be the end of PPP in Pakistan which of course would also result in the fall of Gilani.
PML-Q and Imran's Tehreek-e-Insaf would be big winners in next elections.
I think the time is right for Musharraf to consider a political come back.

Selma I doubt your theory about Pres Zardari being involved in his wife's assassination, there is no spec to include him in there. I also doubt that if Zardari was assassinated that the PPP would crumble to bits because its not made of (a,b,c,..z) bits of so-called Quid-e-Azam parties but a united party with strong roots with the people. I doubt people will vote for those who brought the terror to our nation they were dismissed in the last election and there is no way they can have come back. I doubt Musharraf would be joining politics anytime soon because a lot of people want his neck hanged not just PPP supporters. The nation rejected them the nation never wanted them, they forced there way with the gun into power and are the real absolute corrupts of power.

[Interceptor]

90% of Benazir’s murder suspects arrested: Zardari

* President says action against those accused of washing crime scene underway
* Unveils string of projects for South Punjab

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that “a special group” is investigating the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, and about “90 percent” of those accused have been arrested, while action continues against those who washed the crime scene at Liaquat Bagh, a private TV channel reported on Thursday.

The president was addressing senior journalists and columnists from Bahawalpur and Multan – who called on him in Ashrafabad.

Zardari said the decision to approach the UN for an investigation into the assassination of Benazir was not made by him: “the Senate, the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies decided to approach the world body for an impartial probe”. The president said his government had empowered parliament. He said the demand for a new province of Bahawalpur needed to be taken up by parliament in line with the constitution.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of ‘Benazir Smart Card’ in Bahawalpur, Zardari said the Pakistan People’s Party-led government had proven critics wrong by transferring presidential powers. “We want to rule the hearts of the people,” he said. “I did not hold on to the presidential powers and transferred them.”

He said Bahawalpur was “neglected for 60 years ... no projects were launched here, but the prime minister is now from the south, and the government is launching a number of development schemes in the area”. He said projects would be undertaken in Bahawalpur from a federally-funded special package of Rs 10 billion. Zardari also announced scholarships, including 100 for Islamia University and 500 for students of information technology. He said water issues in Bahawalpur would be resolved, as a lack of rains added to economic difficulties.

Addressing a convention of representatives, office-bearers and the leadership of the People’s Youth Organisation (PYO), the People’s Students Federation (PSF) and the People’s Labour Bureau (PLB) from Multan, Bahawalpur and DG Khan in Ashrafabad, the president reiterated his government’s resolve to address the problems facing the common man. He said the current government was developing a new relationship with the world, including the US, China and Europe. Zardari also unveiled a string of development projects for South Punjab.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...3-4-2010_pg7_1