Musharraf solely not behind Benazir assassination: Zardari

LAHORE: Former president and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, commenting on Benazir Bhutto's assassination, has said some internal and external forces had been involved along with Pervez Musharraf in the assassination.

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

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

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

He said the PPP demonstrated enough tolerance for the sake of democracy in the state, adding, "Our fault is only this that we talk of democracy."

"Individuals from Jati Umra never won elections, they manoeuvre elections," he said, in a clear reference to the Sharifs. "Nawaz quit democracy and instead became a monarch."

The former president said the PML-N leader had agreed on his departure during the days of [Islamabad] sit-ins, but they supported him for the sake of democracy.

He recalled that Dr Asim Hussain never evaded income tax, but cases were made against the former petroleum minister.

The PPP co-chairman said he no longer trusts Nawaz. He noted the example of Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman, who he said was currently a political rival “but stands firm on what he says”.

"This is why he is trusted," he added. "Nawaz did injustice to democratic forces and the Parliament."

Asked about next elections, Zardari said polls would be held on time and that he hoped for free and fair elections in the country.

He predicted that a single party would not be able to secure simple majority in the forthcoming general elections. He, however, said the PPP would be the majority party.

Asked if his party would emerge bigger than the PTI, he told the anchorperson, "You might be considering the PTI as a party, we don't."

He said a higher number of independent candidates would contest the next elections and his party could form an alliance with them.

The former president said the 18th Amendment was an achievement of the PPP and Raza Rabbani was only the "author”. He, however, denied that he was angry with Rabbani.

Speaking of the Senate chairman, Zardari said it was their decision to get Sadiq Sanjrani elected and he hoped that 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 was 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 already said that he was a "political chief" and would form his own party.

About the incumbent chief justice, he said Justice Saqib Nisar had been trying to do well but he did not have time.