LAHORE, Jan 18: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Director IA Rehman said on Friday former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had been assassinated by anti-people mafia after it failed to eliminate her politically.

Mr Rehman said this while addressing a reference for the late Bhutto arranged by Human Endeavour for Peace and Development at Lahore Press Club.

He said anti-people forces wanted to eliminate Benazir politically for her role in awakening people. The forces first tried to remove her from political scene by issuing edicts against women leaders when she returned home after exile in 1986. The effort, however, failed and she became prime minister in 1988.

He said the enemies of people tried to throw her out of politics by dismissing her governments twice and implicating her in a large number of cases. She was forced to go into another exile when she could not be eliminated politically. The forces killed her when they found that she was still popular among the people despite their vilification campaigns.

Prof Mubarik Haider said Benazir was a symbol of peace and democracy. Her assassination was against all political norms and a crime against the people of Pakistan.

Nisar Safdar said the late Bhutto was eliminated by the forces which wanted only anti-people political parties to operate in Pakistan. He said Benazir was safe in Dubai but she returned to Pakistan because she wanted to improve the lot of the people.

Dr Massarat Hasan said Benazir was a courageous woman determined to fight against injustice. She was punished for the efforts made by her for the empowerment of women.