An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday declared the testimony of former interior minister Rehman Malik in the Benazir Bhutto murder case as unnecessary and summoned Assistant Director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Shoaib Ahmed.
According to the prosecution, Rehman Malik testified before the court that former president Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf had told former prime minister Benazir Bhutto that her future was dependent on her rapport with him. He claimed to have written several letters to Musharraf requesting him to provide appropriate security to Benazir Bhutto which went in vain.
Despite the ATC’s order during the previous hearing, Rehman didn’t appear in the court.
During the hearing, the ATC judge termed the statement of former interior minister unnecessary and adjourned the case till February 22.
On Feb 10, Rehman Malik had failed to appear in the court for hearing. The court was informed that Malik could not attend the proceedings as he was in the Senate session.
The court ordered the PPP Senator to appear before it on Monday, but he was a no show.
Rehman Malik was in-charge of Benazir Bhutto’s security when she was assassinated on December 27, 2007 at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi after addressing a massive public rally.
The former interior minister is also one of the prime witnesses against ex-President Pervez Musharraf in the case.
SC dismisses contempt notice against Rehman Malik:
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court (SC) has accepted appeal plea by Rehman Malik against his indictment in a contempt of court case and dismissed contempt of court notice against him.
Former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had issued a contempt of court notice to Rehman Malik for changing the investigation team in the Steel Mills case.
A five-member bench of SC presided over by CJP Anwar Zaheer Jamali took up the case for hearing on Monday.
The counsel for Rehman Malik took the plea during the hearing that indicting his client was illegal and unconstitutional. This order should be withdrawn by reviewing court’s orders and contempt of court notice against Rehman Malik be also withdrawn, he prayed.
The court accepting the plea dismissed the contempt of court notice.
Talking to media men later, Rehman Malik said that Iftikhar Chaudhry wanted to take part in politics after his retirement but he went for politicking in courts. “No accused was arrested during our tenure from Karachi in Imran Farooq murder case nor was it brought to our notice,” he said. British government also said nothing about the accused in this case.
So, the testimony of one of the prime conspirators is unnecessary!
As mentioned in the report, PPP had refused Government security and the whole responsibility was taken by Rehman Malik. But he was the first one to disappear from the scene. Now he does not want to appear in the Court. His contention is to remain in news. The fake-Doctor had taken 400 of his crownies for Umra in a chartered plane – cost paid by one another of a Malik. Never believe him.
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