December 31, 2007	Monday	Zilhaj 20, 1428

LAHORE, Dec 30: Bullet(s) might have hit Benazir Bhutto’s neck and cut her trachea and carotid vessels that proved fatal, former Pakistan Medical Association secretary Dr Saeed Elahi says.

Speaking at a press conference at the Lahore Press Club here on Sunday, Mr Elahi the body and wounds of Ms Bhutto had not been examined by forensic experts.

He said every medico-legal examination was based upon description and detail of locus (scene of crime), circumstantial evidence and relative position of the victim and the accused, which he said, had been either examined in defined yard sticks or destroyed by negligence.

Dr Elahi, who is also a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidate for PP-152, disputed the government’s claim that a depressed skull fracture on right temple was cause of her death.

He said if this was the case what was the answer to the pool of blood on her vehicle seat as depressed skull did not bleed heavily besides depressed fracture did not cause immediate death.

Legally, he said, before issuing an evidence-based medico legal document, the examination doctor could not disclose his report to the press. In such cases, he said, the body became state property and all procedures had to be followed.

He said the doctors had only revealed skull and chest radiographs as in external examination whole body radiograph (scan, MRI) must have been taken to ascertain nature and impact of wounds.

He added that important traces and evidence had been removed by negligence or conspiracy, which should be investigated.