KARACHI /LARKANA – President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also the co-chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), on Monday held Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan leader Baitullah Mehsud responsible for the assassination of his wife and party leader Benazir Bhutto, while calling the UN probe into the assassination “incomplete”.
Addressing a gathering at the Naudero House near Garhi Khuda Bux on Benazir’s third death anniversary, Zardari said, “Baitullah Mehsud is our (leader’s) murderer.” The president, “We have not killed him as we have already declared that democracy is the best revenge.” He said the PPP government had raised objections over the commission’s report because it was incomplete.
“The report could not reach where it should have,” he said. In his view, the main reasons behind the incomplete UN report were “either world politics or the requirement of time”. The party’s Central Executive Committee in its meeting on Sunday had postponed bringing out the investigation report into Benazir’s murder as PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was not present.
Zardari also made clear that Bilawal was not likely to participate in practical politics soon due to his ongoing studies. Speaking about the government’s achievements in the current tenure, Zardari said it included ridding of a military dictator, passing the 18th Amendment, renaming of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, keeping the party and its ideology intact despite Benazir’s murder, introducing the NFC Award with consensus of all provinces, empowering Gilgit-Baltistan, promoting ties with friendly countries, especially China.
“We will make a new Pakistan,” Zardari said, vowing to transform the country into a modern democratic state in keeping with Benazir’s vision. “This government will complete its five-year term and we will hold transparent elections after that because we want democracy to flourish in Pakistan,” Zardari said, adding that the PPP had fulfilled all wishes of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, “now what else does he want”, a private TV channel reported.
Interestingly, the presidential address was not broadcasted live on television and released to the state-run and private channels after censoring some contents. Earlier, thousands flocked to Garhi Khuda Bukhsh to mourn Benazir. An MQM delegation, led by Raza Haroon, also laid floral wreaths at Benazir’s tomb and offered fateha.
