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| Caretaker govt apologises for Interior Ministry’s blunder |
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Tuesday, January 01, 2008
By Shaheen Sehbai
ISLAMABAD: The caretaker government of Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro on Monday apologised for the highly provocative comment made by the Interior Ministry spokesman that late PPP leader Benazir Bhutto had died because she hit the lever of her bullet-proof Land Cruiser on the fateful evening.
At a high-powered briefing to newspaper editors invited from all over the country, Interior Minister Lt General (retd) Hamid Nawaz asked the media and the people to forgive and ignore the comment made by spokesman Brig (retd) Cheema, which caused a huge uproar, as private TV channels obtained footage, showing the assassin pointing the gun at the PPP leader and shooting it.
The briefing by caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Mian Soomro, was attended by his foreign minister, his interior minister and the information minister besides senior officials.
Editor after editor lambasted the government for its non-serious attitude towards the tragedy, specially the statement that Benazir Bhutto had died by hitting the lever and not by a bullet or a sharpnel.
Soomro first tried to defend the Interior Ministry spokesman, saying he was just relating the facts which had been told to him, specially about the cause of death. “We are conducting an investigation and all TV footage, all evidence, that would be available will help in reaching a definite conclusion,” Soomro said.
But the issue did not subside. More questions were asked with reference to the medical report of Rawalpindi doctors and it was emphatically pointed out that the report quoted by the spokesman never mentioned the cause of the head injury to Benazir Bhutto. It only said there was a head injury with a broken skull which caused cardio-pulmonary arrest.
Soomro then referred the issue to the interior minister. He explained in detail the security measures which were taken and†asserted that Benazir Bhutto had a bullet-proof vehicle which could not be damaged by any bomb or bullet.Once she was inside it, she was secure and
police vans were trying to keep her vehicle clear of other vehicles. But when she emerged from the sunroof she exposed herself to an attack. “Nothing would have happened to her even if every one in the world had wanted to hurt her,” Gen Hamid Nawaz said.
An editor again pointed out why Brig Cheema had overstepped by saying that a car lever had killed her when the manufacturers of the car and Asif Ali Zardari had stated that there was no metallic lever which could have caused the wound to her head. The medical report also did not mention any such cause of death.
Then the interior minister said the spokesman’s comments may have been a mistake as “we are faujis and we are not so articulate to present our views as you journalists can.” “I am sorry if that happened and please forgive us and ignore the comment,” he told the editors.
PM Soomro was repeatedly asked whether he would allow a foreign investigation into the murder but he continued to assert that Pakistani experts were fully competent to do the job. His continuous denials raised questions about the offer made by President Musharraf to British PM Gordon Brown that foreign help could be welcomed by Pakistan.
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20 die as bomber hits Peshawar Judicial Complex
By Javed Aziz Khan
PESHAWAR: A suicide bomber blew himself up at the main gate of the Judicial Complex on the Khyber Road here on Thursday, killing 20 people, including three cops, and wounding over 50 others.
Hundreds of more |
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Finally, dreaded NRO list is out and official
By Ansar Abbasi
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Gilani to quit if wife proved NRO beneficiary
By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
& Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: In what could be described as a clear message to the beneficiaries of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) to resign from their posts, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilan more |
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Multiple criteria agreed for NFC Award
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Karzai sworn in for second term
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US asked to take Pakistan into confidence on Afghan policy
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He expressed these views while talking t more |
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‘India failed to respond positively on peace talks’
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Dictators ruled for decades but civilians can’t complete tenure: Shahbaz
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Talking t more |
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Vehicle escorting CIA director overturns
By Shakeel Anjum
ISLAMABAD: A vehicle of a sensitive security agency escorting US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Leon Panetta, currently on a ‘secret’ visit to Pakistan, overturned near the KRL Chowk at Islamabad Ex more |
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Headley, Rana being probed for involvement in 26/11 attacks
By Sami Abraham
WASHINGTON: Two former students of Cadet College Hasan Abdal, currently living in Chicago, are being investigated for their possible involvement in Mumbai attacks last year in which more than 160 people were ki more |
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PM’s wife not NRO beneficiary: NAB
ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau Thursday clarified that Fouzia Gilani, wife of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, was not a beneficiary of the National Reconciliation Ordinance as references agains more |
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Recovered billions can make real difference
By Mehtab Haider
ISLAMABAD: The 160 million people can be provided major relief and even increase in electricity tariff by 30 per cent can be avoided if Rs 165 billion (conservative estimate) are recovered from the beneficiarie more |
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China wants improved Indo-Pak ties
News Desk
BEIJING: The Chinese foreign ministry on Thursday gave the impression that it was merely interested in the gradual improvement in relations between India and Pakistan but was not trying to interfere with the pr more |
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US supports Pakistan-India dialogue
WASHINGTON: A senior American diplomat has said Washington is supportive of resolution of disputes between India and Pakistan through dialogue.
“Of course, we all share an interest in stability and peace more |
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Remarks on women pilots
News Desk
NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) vice chief, Air Marshal P K Barbora, on Thursday offered his apologies if anyone’s feelings have been hurt by his remarks on induction of women fighter pilots, and stressed more |
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Nato must not walk away from Afghanistan, says chief
BUDAPEST: Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Thursday the alliance must not turn its back on Afghanistan as this would raise the threat from al-Qaeda and lead to insecurity throughout central more |
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BoP scam accused sent on 12-day remand
By our correspondent
LAHORE: An accountability court on Thursday sent two main accused of the Rs 9 billion Bank of Punjab scam on 12-day physical remand, directing the NAB officials to produce them again in the court along with oth more |
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briefs...
Eid holidays
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has announced Eid-ul-Azha holidays from November 27 to 30, said an announcement made by the PM Secretariat here on Thursday.
Seve more |
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ISSN 1563-9479 
