'Musharraf assisted Benazir’s killers'

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), which is investigating the Benazir Bhutto assassination case, has refused to succumb to enormous pressure from high-ups regarding dropping former president Pervez Musharraf’s name from its challan list, sources have said.

According to a TV channel, the FIA team is preparing its fifth challan of the case, in which it has accused Musharraf of providing direct and intentional assistance to Benazir’s assassins, The Nation reports.

It has been revealed that Musharraf’s name has been added as an absconder in the challan, among seven other names of the accused- including Baitullah Mehsud.

An e-mail written by former Prime Minister Benazir is also included as evidence in the fresh challan.

Last Saturday, a Pakistani Anti-Terrorism Court had issued an arrest warrant against Musharraf, ordering him to appear for a hearing on February 19 in the Benazir assassination case.

The sources said that authorities went to the former military ruler’s residence in Chak Shahzad, Islamabad, to act upon his arrest warrant, but his employees told them that Musharraf was not present there, as he was residing in London for some time.

Meanwhile, another TV channel reported that the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) chief has said hurdles were being created to block his return to Pakistan, but he would remain in contact with the people.

In his telephonic address during the provincial convention of All Pakistan Muslim League in Peshawar, Musharraf said that political conspiracies were being hatched against him, but he wanted to serve the people after returning to the country.