KARACHI, Jan 10: Another leader of the Pakistan People’s Party responsible for the security of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto upon her homecoming on Oct 18 was put on notice on Thursday by an inquiry tribunal investigating the midnight attack on the PPP welcome rally at Karsaz.
The tribunal, headed by Justice (retd) Dr Ghaus Mohammad, issued a notice to the leader, Agha Siraj Durrani, for Jan 28 to record his statement about the security measures taken by the PPP.
He also allowed a request made by special prosecutor Arshad Lodhi and the tribunal’s liaison officer, SSP Niaz Khoso, to amend the date of notices for PPP leaders Dr Zulfiqar Mirza and Major-Gen (retd) Ahsan Ahmed and chief security officer SSP Major (retd) Imtiaz, who was nominated by the federal government on the recommendation of Ms Bhutto.
The tribunal had summoned all the three persons to appear before it on Jan 21. Mr Lodhi submitted that Ashura would fall on Jan 20 and it might be difficult for the three to reach Karachi from other cities the next day, Jan 21.
The tribunal chief observed that besides Dr Mirza, Maj-Gen Ahmed and SSP Imtiaz, Agha Siraj Durrani of the PPP should also be called for his testimony. “Call the PPP leaders on Jan 28 so that we can record their statements to examine the security arrangements made by the organisers,” Justice Ghaus told SSP Khoso.
Earlier, the tribunal recorded statements of three more witnesses, Inspector Khan Mohammad Zardari, Inspector Asadullah Mangi and Sub-Inspector Muhabbat Ali, who were in operational command of DSP Jam Saifullah Dharejo on Oct 18, guarding the left flank of the main float carrying Ms Bhutto in their mobile vans. They also sustained injuries in the twin blasts.
Their statements were identical in nature as all of them deposed before the court that about 200 to 300 PPP volunteers, who had surrounded the float from Terminal 1, were not checked for weapons etc.
Inspector Mangi deposed before the tribunal that the PPP volunteers had cordoned off the float and he saw the volunteers shooing away PPP workers and supporters who were not authorised to go inside the cordon.
Answering a question, he said he was not authorised to check the volunteers for weapons but he had frisked five to six other persons on suspicion on way from the airport to Karsaz.
He also testified that there was no instruction given to him about the head of the volunteers so that he could coordinate with him on security matters.
He said that as a result of the first blast, he sustained injuries but he saw Major (retd) Imtiaz and SP Pir Farid Jan Sarhandi, who were reaching the front of the float from behind. Suddenly, he said, there was a second blast and he saw the dead and injured lying on the road. However, in his presence Ms Bhutto was evacuated from the float by SP Sarhandi.
Inspector Zardari also informed the tribunal that there was no liaison between police and party workers for their identification.
He said Ms Bhutto was not standing atop the float when the first blast occurred.
He said that after the incident he attended a meeting convened by SSP Security Dr Amin Yousufzai, but he did not inform the SSP that the PPP volunteers were not checked at Terminal 1.
SI Muhabbat Ali in his testimony also said he saw the PPP volunteers removing persons from their cordon and trying to prevent entry of individuals from the crowd.
He said at Terminal 1 the main float was checked by Special Branch personnel.
The tribunal adjourned its proceedings for Jan 14.