BB murder case prosecutor shot dead in Islamabad
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ISLAMABAD: Two unknown assailants on motorcycle killed The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) special prosecutor in the Benazir Bhutto murder case Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali on Friday, DawnNews reported.
According to the police, state prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar was shot multiple times by gunmen in Islamabad’s G-9 area as he was driving to the next hearing in the murder case of the former prime minister, who was assassinated more than five years ago. Following the attack, he was taken to Islamabad’s main government-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in a severely injured condition where he succumbed to his injuries.
Doctors said he had been killed with ten bullets targeting his chest and shoulder.
Zulfiqar had been given extra government security last year after police investigators working on the Benazir Bhutto case received threats, which also named him.
It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the shooting.
“I cannot comment. I’m in a state of shock,” Zulfiqar’s deputy Azhar Chaudhry told AFP when asked to comment.
Moreover, the firing incident also killed a woman and injured Chaudhry Zulfiqar’s guard Rehman Ali when he lost control of his vehicle.
Later, Zulfiqar’s body was shifted to the hospital’s morgue and a medical team was being constituted to perform postmortem. Wasim Khawaja, spokesman for PIMS, confirmed that his bodyguard was out of danger.
Police subsequently cordoned off the site of incident and started a search operation in the area.
Rawalpindi and Islamabad High Court (IHC) Bar Association’s lawyers announced a strike in the wake of the attack.
Interior Minister Malik Habib Khan has also taken notice of the incident.
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On DawnNews
Comments (29) Closed
May 03, 2013 11:57am
It is a great tragedy. No one is safe here, especially witness and prosecutors.
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May 03, 2013 12:01pm
Act One Scene Two: Seems like a little warning by the pro-Musharraf groups. It needs to be heeded that its business as usual
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May 03, 2013 12:24pm
A high value target like him should have been given a fool poof security.The entire Indian subcontinent is in turmoil, and there appears no respite in sight.
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May 03, 2013 01:24pm
Everyone has taken notice of the incident but will there be any conviction ever for rampant murders going on in the city?
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May 03, 2013 01:26pm
Another charge to implicate Gen (Retd) in the murder case by ATC. In most civilised countries the court hears the case filed by the Plaintiff for charges to be heard by the court. IHC in Pakistan then subsequently adds further charges because the Plaintiff did not include in the plaint. Is it not a great justice system where you get the judge acting as a lawyer as well as judge
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May 03, 2013 01:38pm
Salam.
Salute be to Interior Ministry, Judiciary, lawyers and of course the comman man in the streets of the jungle called Pakistan. You all are performing your duties in a befitting manner.
Do you people want this to stop???
Cordone off the whole of Islamabad; perform house to house search; find the culprits; hang them. No other solution.
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May 03, 2013 02:55pm
It shows that there are people out there who strongly feel that there is nothing in BB murder case, but it is being used for political purposes, e.g. prosecuting Musharraf, may be, for nothing.
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May 03, 2013 03:10pm
who has benefited.certainly not the country. The great dictator, may be
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May 03, 2013 03:15pm
I believe the brave journalists of Pakistan will unearth the reason behind the gruesome murder. I salute the media, the bar and the judiciary of your country for their unflinching commitment to protect democracy as well as the sovereignty which the people of Bangladesh have watching with great enthusiasm.
May i say that at end of the AFP run report "examination" should be followed after "the postmortem" .
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May 03, 2013 03:27pm
He wanted to convict a good man who was one of the most successful leaders of Pakistan. He wanted to give injustice to an ex army general, president and prime minister, that is disgusting and disgraceful. There are many like this man who are doing this for what? I'll tell you, MONEY, POWER! corruption is the name of the game in this country. Pakistan is the land of the corrupt and good People like the Former President Pervez Musharaff will be treated badly. It is unfortunate that so many people in Pakistan are illiterate and are like sheep and follow the corrupt because they give them laptops or some food or money. Look what Zardari did?? he is the most corrupt man on the planet yet there isnt any death threats against him at the moment or any court action like the former president has. Gilani hes another fool and Ashraf. I hope Imran Khan takes Power and gives the former fair treatment!! If Musharaff goes down and Imran Khan doesnt take power, I will tell you one thing this country will be finished in the next decade!
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May 03, 2013 03:28pm
This is just ridiculous, seems no where is safe anymore people can be murdered in broad day light and the culprits are never caught.
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May 03, 2013 03:35pm
No mention of the security provided to the Prosecutor...what happened to them did they run away ?
The guys that did run away are the killers on motorcycle...and the police cordoning off the site and searching is like bolting the door after the horse has run away...
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May 03, 2013 03:37pm
Pakistan should no more be considered as part of the indian sub continent because of the situation it is going through it should be considered as part of Afghanistan
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May 03, 2013 04:02pm
First of all, hats off to the bravery of Mr. Chaudhry Zulfiqar who took this case amid life threats. His sacrifice should not go in vain. As reported in the media, because of the efforts of Mr. Chaudhary to take the case into Anti terrorism court, it was heading swiftly towards conclusion and the prime suspects belonging to extremist outfits were about to get justice but their partners just made good on their threats no thanks to Mr. Musharraf under whose rule these banned organizations strengthened their roots in our country and since then have been unstoppable continuing their dirty work through the PPP, ANP and MQM led era who are now blaming their handpicked government to solve this crisis.
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May 03, 2013 04:30pm
@Khurram:
there is not an iota of chance finding the killer and bring him to justice. Of all many thousands of civilians killed by gun or bombs, the pattern is the same, perpetrators will never be caught. What a lawless country.
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May 03, 2013 05:15pm
Who was going to be suspected or in danger, if Zulfiqar Ali had found those who were going to be benefited by Benazir Bhutto's murder? Certainly not Taliban, then who?
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May 03, 2013 06:00pm
@AK:
Even the culprit get caught, what difference it make. He would be released like others who get caught but released by the CJP. Can you give one name who is convicted and punished in the last 5 years. None. The courts are very sympathetic with the terrorists.
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May 03, 2013 06:28pm
@MSA:
maybe the prosecutor was close to getting musharaff.
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May 03, 2013 08:01pm
Mr. Zulfaquar is killed along with lots of other innocent people, but no one cares. I know in Malal,s case, we all know who the person is and Mr. Rehman former interior minister pointed out that the the subject will be in custody in few days. Nothing happened. He was in-charge of BB security. poor lady is dead now playing blame game. That is one irritant for public and rampant killing going on. for God sake resolve Musharaf issue and other high profile cases. Justices are also playing revenge game and arousing public sentiments. The fact is the cases against Musharaff are bogus.
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May 03, 2013 09:46pm
@AK:
Pakistan is a failed state. There is no law and order, no respect for human life. Life is a misry.
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May 03, 2013 10:03pm
Rehman malik and Zardari both do not want to be exposed in BB murder case . Rehman Malik must be interogated with his partner in crime Zardari including polygraph tests. I don't think Musharaff has anything to do with bb murder. Drama is being played supported by politicians to keep Musharaff out of main stream politics as well as election. May God bless Pakistan and keep away these dirty & blood sucking politicians from a poor nation like Pakistan.
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May 03, 2013 11:21pm
Reading the reports about the BB murder case and Zulfiqar's struggles to unmask her killers, I would always fear he might be next on the killer's agenda. They have killed one by one all those who knew something about the incident.
It seems the killers are very powerful, know whom to silence and what to do to hide their faces and save themselves from punishment.
It is very worrisome that officers who are competent, sincere and honest like Kamran Faisal and Choudheri Zulfiqar are silenced when they are about to unveil the truth.
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May 04, 2013 12:27am
What is this Caretaker interior minister doing except for running Noora Sharif's election campaign. He should be immediately jailed as because of his incompetency so many people have been killed in short time oh sorry I forgot he is ex general hence he is above all accountability. Only Allah will take all these cruel corrupt Generals to task one day very very soon and yes Kayani you won't be able to save them. No matter how hard you try Kayani you won't save them from Allah's wreath
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May 04, 2013 01:58am
@realistskeptic:
You are either devoid of facts or are intentionally lying because of your hatred towards Musharaff et-al. If you want to blame someone for the banned organizations, then blame the rulers of Punjab for in the last 20 years and since the times of Zia, they have allowed these organizations to grow unfettered in the interior of Punjab. Musharraf was the only one who at least banned these groups. What has the government of Punjab done? Most of the attacks inside Pakistan are being carried out by the so called "Punjabi Taliban". Had Musharraf not banned these groups, they would still be collecting chanda from the masajids all over Pakistan.
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May 04, 2013 02:06am
@bkt:
And your proof? This FIA prosecutor is handling cases against Lashkar militants as well among other cases. Why assume that someone from Musharraf camp had a hand in it? What if I suggested that PML-N or some in the legal fraternity paid up assassins to kill this guy just to firm up their case and pile even more pressure on Musharraf wrongfully? Can you prove me wrong?
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May 04, 2013 02:06am
@Sikander:
And certainly not the "prosecuted" because only in this land of Pakistan are people considered guilty before being proven to be so.
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May 04, 2013 06:07am
I am surprised that there hasn't been much uproar about this incident in the media. How can there be justice if the people responsible for it have no protection for their lives.
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May 04, 2013 06:36am
No tears for the dead. He has ultra motives against the armed forces of Pakistan. Now he can have a chat with Benazir.
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May 04, 2013 07:55am
all the indian prisoners and pak prisoners be exchanged so they can undergo imprisonment in their own respective country.
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