Pakistan's federal cabinet reopens former President Bhutto's murder case

[News_Editor]

Pakistan's federal cabinet reopens former President Bhutto's murder case

2011-03-29 06:27:31 GMT+7 (ICT)

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Pakistan's Federal Cabinet on Monday reopened the murder case against former President Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who was executed in 1979, the APP news agency reported.

According to Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, the cabinet filed a judicial review reference in the Supreme Court after it unanimously approved to reopen the case.

"The Cabinet gave unanimous approval for the reopening of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's murder case, however the details would be given by Minister for Law in a couple of days," the minister said.

Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the fourth President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. He was also the Prime Minister of the Asian country (1973-1977). He was accused of ordering the murder of a political rival and hanged in 1979.

Ali Bhutto is the father of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) after he founded it in 1967. The party became the largest and most influential in Pakistan. He was also known as "The Father of the Nuclear Program."

However, the late Pakistani leader was also accused of human rights abuses and intimidation of opposition despite giving Pakistan its third Constitution and being recognize as a nationalist.

His daughter, Benazir Bhutto was twice Prime Minister of Pakistan and wife of current President Asif Ali Zardari. Former PM Bhutto was shot dead in December 2007 in Rawalpindi while campaigning for the 2008 general election.

Al-Qaeda commander Mustafa Abu al-Yazid claimed responsibility for the murder that also killed at least 20 other people. He described Bhutto as "the most precious American asset."

Last Saturday, an anti-terrorism court asked the country's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to contact Interpol for the arrest of former president Pervez Musharraf. Pakistani authorities had issued four arrest warrants accusing Musharraf for failing to provide Benazir with adequate protection. The former leader resides in London and has said he will never return to his native country.

On Monday, Minister Awan said that the reopening in the case was also approved as "it was also Benazir Bhutto's wish that Supreme Court hold a judicial probe into Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's murder."

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