14 March 2004	Sunday	22 Muharram 1425

LAHORE, March 13: PPP MNA Aitzaz Ahsan says newspaper reports suggesting that the government is planning to file another reference against former prime minister Benazir Bhutto effects a crude and conspiratorial mindset which the people will reject.

In a press statement issue here on Saturday, he quoted reports as saying that she would be implicated in a case about the purchase of helicopters by the government through the agency of Malik Allahyar Khan, a relative of former president Farooq Leghari.

Malik Allahyar Khan died some time ago and now the former prime minister is being implicated in the case. "This is a case of sheer victimization and mala fide prosecution."

Mr Ahsan said: "As a matter of fact the allegation of the fictitious purchase of the helicopters was investigated in an environment hostile to the PPP chairperson in 1997-98 by senior officials of the FIA and State Bank sub-circle wing, Rawalpindi. After a thorough probe an FIR was lodged against Muhammad Muzaffar Husain, deputy secretary, ERC, Cabinet Division, at the FIA police station in Rawalpindi under sections 409 and 109 PPC on Feb 28, 1998.

He said the name of the PPP chairperson was not mentioned in the FIR, as she was neither named as an accused nor as one otherwise concerned with the transaction.

The PPP leader said for the government to consider implicating her now in the alleged offence was a clear case of bad intentions.

"It must be remembered that any such attempt will also lead to embarrassment for the government because the allegation is without substance and merit.

Any such prosecution will also destabilize the feeble democracy as well as the Jamali government," he said.