It is possible some ‘rogue elements’ in establishment plotted Benazir’s murder: Musharraf

Former president Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday told BBC that there may have been some elements in the establishment who colluded with Taliban to assassinate the former premier, Benazir Bhutto.

Terming his observation without any solid proof, he said, “I don’t have any facts available. But my assessment is very accurate I think… A lady who is known to be inclined towards the West is seen suspiciously by those elements.”

However, due to the polarisation of society on religious lines, there exists a possibility, indeed, that some elements sought Taliban’s help to murder Benazir.

Even though Musharraf has denied the allegations of having anything to do with the murder of Benazir, there have been many who blame him for the killing.

Journalists Mark Siegel and Ron Suskind have repeatedly claimed that months before her assassination, Bhutto was telephoned by Musharraf who told her not to return to Pakistan.

According to the BBC report, Musharraf strongly denied making the call and dismissed the idea that he would have ordered her murder.

Bhutto’s son, Bilawal, who has since succeeded his mother as PPP chairman, agrees with Siegel and Suskind’s assessment.

“Musharraf exploited this entire situation to assassinate my mother,” says the younger Bhutto.

“He purposely sabotaged her security so that she would be assassinated and taken off the scene.”

It may be mentioned here that Musharraf has been declared an absconder in a case pertaining to the murder of Benazir.

Benazir was murdered on December 27, 2007, at Liaquat Bagh when a suicide bomber had blown himself up at the end of the political gathering.