ISLAMABAD, Aug 31: Former Sindh chief minister Syed Abdullah Shah has refuted the allegations levelled by the ex-interior minister of his involvement in the killing of Mir Murtaza Bhutto.

In a statement issued here by the PPP media cell, Mr Shah said: “My attention has been drawn to the statement of former minister Naseerullah Babar, in which he is reported to have said that I am involved in the murder of Mir Murtaza Bhutto.

“I am surprised and shocked beyond measure at this statement, and can not believe that my own cabinet colleague whom I hold in high esteem could have issued such a statement at this point of time.

“My colleague, Babar, knows full well that a high-level judicial inquiry had been held in the wake of the unfortunate murder. The inquiry tribunal headed by a Supreme Court Judge had completely exonerated me of any involvement.

“My leader Benazir Bhutto, the Pakistan People‘s Party and all independent observers believed and still believe that Mir Murtaza’s murder was politically motivated, and he was killed to pave the way to overthrow the PPP government. Mir‘s murder was the part of conspiracy, ‘kill Bhutto to get Bhutto’.

“Indeed, I am suffering from the pain and anguish of exile because I refused to turn an approver against the Pakistan People’s Party chairperson,” the former chief minister of Sindh said.