Murtaza Bhutto

MURTAZA'S DEATH WAS ACCIDENTAL, SAYS DIG
KARACHI, Oct 8, 1996: The outcome of the incident (with Mir Murtaza
Bhutto) is totally accidental and not pre-meditated as alleged, said Dr. Shoaib
Suddle, DIG of Police, Karachi, in his comments filed before Sindh High
Court (SHC).
The comments were filed in reply to a constitutional petition filed by
Ghinawa Bhutto and Badarunnisa, widows of Mir Murtaza Bhutto, chairman
PPP(SB), and his companion Ashique Jatoi, respectively. The DIG further
maintained that the police intended only to stop the vehicle carrying gunmen
of Mir Murtaza Bhutto and not the vehicle of Mir Murtaza. In fact, there were
clear and unambiguous orders to the police not to stop or search Mir Murtaza
Bhutto.
"The reason for stopping the gunmen was that there was a credible
information that they were also suspected of crime Nos 270 and 106 of 1996 of
Garden and Napier police stations, respectively. "As soon as the Clifton SHO
signalled the red Toyota pick-ups carrying gunmen to stop, they aimed their
weapons on the police and on the instigation of Mir Murtaza Bhutto sitting in
the front seat of his vehicle, they started firing at the police party comprising
two ASPs, SHO Clifton with 13 police personnel, thereby injuring the ASP
Saddar and SHO Clifton. "The police also retaliated in self-defence. In the
course of firing, Mir Murtaza was critically injured whereas his six
companions/gunmen were killed on the spot, four were injured and six
survived unhurt. "Mir Murtaza Bhutto was immediately removed to the Mid-
East Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries two-and-a-half hours after
the incident," said DIG in his comments. "The remaining injured, along with
taxi driver, were shifted to the JPMC for treatment. A number of Mir Murtaza
Bhutto's associates were, however, able to escape from the scene of the
incident," Suddle's comments said.
The DIG also denied that any person of Mir Murtaza Bhutto's side appeared
at the police station to lodge FIR about the incident. The DIG also maintained
that FIRs have been lodged regarding the Sept 20 incidents and thus no
violation of constitution had taken place. He also stated that the officers
present at the time of the incident have either been placed under suspension
or transferred to ensure impartial and independent investigations and as such
the investigations were transferred to the Crimes Branch.
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