PAKISTAN'S PROSECUTOR IN BHUTTO CASE SHOT DEAD

Islamabad, 24 Jumadil Akhir 1434/4 May 2013 (MINA) – Gunmen killed Pakistan’s main government prosecutor on the Benazir Bhutto murder case in Islamabad, Friday (3/5). The gunman fled on a motorbike.

“State prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali was shot in the head, shoulder and chest in the attack on Friday as he was driving to a hearing in the murder case of the former prime minister, who was assassinated in 2007,” police officer Arshad Ali said.

Ali said that bullets hit the lawyer at least 13 times, and his car was left pockmarked and with a shattered windshield.

The attack happened in broad daylight in a busy street in a middle-class neighbourhood of the Pakistani capital. His bodyguard was also wounded and a woman was killed when Zulfiqar lost control of his vehicle, police said.

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Bhutto’s husband, President Asif Ali Zardari, strongly condemned the prosecutor’s slaying and called for a thorough investigation.

“A motive for the killing was unclear, but his involvement in two particularly high-profile cases will likely be scrutinised closely,” Zardari said, Aljazeera quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Musharraf house arrest

On Tuesday, ex-military ruler Pervez Musharraf was placed under a two-week house arrest over charges that he conspired to murder the former prime minister, who was at the time campaigning for election.

Musharraf denies being involved in Bhutto’s killing, and his government blamed it on Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who denied any involvement and was killed in a US drone attack in 2009.

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Bhutto’s son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the outgoing main ruling Pakistan People’s Party, has accused Musharraf of her murder.

In 2010, a UN report said Bhutto’s death could have been prevented and accused Musharraf’s government of failing to give her adequate protection.

Zulfiqar’s colleagues described him as a highly competent prosecutor.

“He had a vast experience of handling complicated and high-profile cases and because of his competence he was assigned the Benazir Bhutto case and some other cases,” said Ashraf Gujar. (T/P09/E1).

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).