Mark Siegel's statement a pack of lies, says Musharraf

Published October 2, 2015
The former president said that Benazir would not have approached him for security if she were scared of him. -AFP/File
The former president said that Benazir would not have approached him for security if she were scared of him. -AFP/File

ISLAMABAD: Former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has rejected the statement of American journalist and lobbyist Mark Siegel and termed it as a pack of lies, according to a statement released on Friday.

“I never made a phone call to Benazir Bhutto while she was in the United States,” said Musharraf.

The former president added that Benazir would not have approached him for security if she were scared of him.

“Mark Seigel’s statement is a conspiracy by anti-Pakistan elements and our enemies want to use the statement against Pakistan,” stated the former army chief.

Read: Musharraf threatened Benazir before her return to Pakistan: Mark Siegel

Musharraf questioned the validity of Seigel’s statement and remarked that if the statement were true, Seigel would have mentioned it in his book based on Benazir Bhutto.

The former president also expressed his astonishment regarding the repeated questioning of Mark Seigel.

A day earlier, Mark Siegel had testified before an anti-terrorism court that former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf had barred former prime minister Benazir Bhutto from coming back to Pakistan.

This he had stated while recording his statement with the anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi in Benazir Bhutto assassination case via video link from the United States.

In his testimony, the American journalist had claimed he was with the former prime minister on September 25, 2007, when she had received a call from Musharraf “threatening her with dire consequences if she returned to Pakistan.”

Siegel had also added that Benazir sent him an important email after reaching Pakistan in which she had said “if something happens to her Musharraf should be held responsible for that”.

Bhutto was assassinated in a public gathering in a park in Rawalpindi on Dec 27, 2007. Siegel is a key prosecution witness in the case.

Also read: Mark Seigel’s testimony may be excluded from Benazir case

Siegel also alleges that the former military strongman was aware of the assassination plot, and was aware of the timing and personally ordered the destruction of evidence.

Siegel was an adviser and friend of late Benazir Bhutto, and was also a collaborator on her book “Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the West,” which completed days before her murder.

The high-profile case has lingered on in courts for almost five years now.

Opinion

Editorial

IMF’s firm stance
Updated 05 Feb, 2023

IMF’s firm stance

Pakistan needs to complete the review to stave off a default as well as to unlock inflows from other multilateral and bilateral lenders.
Grotesque bigotry
05 Feb, 2023

Grotesque bigotry

FREEDOM to profess one’s faith is guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan. However, for the country’s Ahmadi...
Kashmir reflections
05 Feb, 2023

Kashmir reflections

ASIDE from Kashmir Day, which the nation is observing today as an official holiday, there are a number of other days...
Crisis conference
Updated 04 Feb, 2023

Crisis conference

PTI's refusal to engage with the govt in such testing times will only be seen as sign of ideological bankruptcy.
Revenge politics
04 Feb, 2023

Revenge politics

A SENSE of déjà-vu prevails as cases pile up against PTI politicians, many of whom, along with their allies and...
Inappropriate remarks
04 Feb, 2023

Inappropriate remarks

OFFICIALS of the state, especially when representing the country at international forums, need to choose their words...