June 06, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 01, 1429

LAHORE, June 5: Former chief of army staff and Awami Qyadat Party chief Mirza Aslam Beg has said slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto was killed because of her anti-American policy.

Addressing the general house meeting of the Lahore Bar Association (LBA), Mr Baig said Ms Bhutto had initially worked out a deal with US administration to return to Pakistan, but after judging the intensity of anti-Musharraf sentiment back home, she could not toe the US line.

“Now the US is dealing with Asif Ali Zardari to achieve its interests,” he said.

Mr Baig said the refusal of the ‘deposed’ chief justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary, to bow before the dictator, gave rise to the movement for change.

He said the lawyers should have their own political agenda for materialising their plans, suggesting them to form a coordination committee to communicate with political parties.

He said the imposition of emergency on November 3 created problems, which were still dragging their feet. He added though Musharraf was breathing the last of his political life, some quarters were still busy hatching conspiracies.

He added it was about time that the real problems were identified and lawyers’ movement taken beyond getting rid of Gen Musharraf (retired). He said the mandate of the Feb 18 elections proved to be against the US interests in the region.