ISLAMABAD, June 16: Former Prime Minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto, has accused the government of exploiting the war on terror to fabricate false terrorist charges against political opponents. In a statement issued here on Thursday, she said international human rights agencies had noted that anti-terrorist laws were being used by the regime against peaceful citizens.

The latest example of the use of power was in the arrest of the representative of the Sindh assembly Zahid Bhurgari under fabricated charges under the anti-terrorist law.

“To humiliate Mr Bhurgri and break his will he was presented in a court handcuffed and his face covered by a cloth as though he was some underground Al Qaeda leader,” the former prime minister said.

She said the PPP would file abuse of power reference against those who violated human rights.

She said certain individuals considered themselves above the law but nature took its own course. “The dictatorship of Ayub, Zia and Yahya fell and so did their puppets and Inshallah that day would come soon for the present regime as well,” she said.

She praised Zahid Bhurgari and his family for the courage with which they defied the rulers and refused to be broken despite the inhuman treatment and mental torture.