Musharraf not solely behind Benazir’s assassination: Zardari

LAHORE: The former president and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-Chairman, Asif Ali Zardari, has said some internal and external forces were involved along with Pervez Musharraf in Benazir Bhutto's assassination. 

He, however, said someone else ensured coordination with Baitullah Mehsud, as Musharraf did not need to coordinate with him. 

"Pervez Musharraf only did his part of the job that there were no lights and security, people were stopping [Benazir Bhutto's] vehicle," he said, adding he held the former military ruler responsible for Benazir’s murder.

Talking to anchorperson Saleem Safi in the Geo News programme 'Jirgah', Zardari said no single party would be able to gain simple majority in the next general elections, however, the PPP is set to emerge as the majority party. 

Asked about next elections, Zardari said the polls would be held on time and he hoped for free and fair elections in the country. Asked if his party would emerge bigger than the PTI, he told the anchor: "You might be considering the PTI as a party, we don't." 

He said a larger number of independent candidates would contest the next elections and his party could form an alliance with them. He said the PPP has demonstrated enough tolerance for the sake of democracy in the state, adding: "Our fault is that we talk of democracy."

"Individuals from Jati Umra have never won elections, they manoeuvre elections ," he said. "Nawaz quit democracy and instead became a monarch." The former president said the PML-N leader had agreed to his departure during the days of [Islamabad] sit-ins, but they supported him for the sake of democracy. The PPP co-chairman said he no longer trusts Nawaz. "Nawaz did injustice with the democratic forces and the Parliament." He noted the example of Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman, who he said is currently a political rival “but stands firm on what he says”. 

"This is why he is trusted," he added. Zardari recalled that Dr Asim Hussain never evaded income tax, but cases were made against the former petroleum minister.

The former president said the 18th Amendment is an achievement of the PPP and Raza Rabbani was only the "author”. He, however, denied being angry with Rabbani. Speaking of the Senate chairman, Zardari said it was their decision to get Sadiq Sanjrani elected and he hoped Sanjrani would stand by them.

When asked how Imran managed to gain a Senate seat from Punjab, despite not having enough votes, he said he is glad that Imran secured the Senate seat. Regarding former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, the PPP co-chairman said Chaudhry had his own agenda and he had said that he was a "political chief" and would form his own party. About the incumbent chief justice, he said Justice Saqib Nisar has been trying to do well, but he does not have time.