Murtaza Bhutto

'MIR MURTAZA'S MURDER WAS PART OF PLOT TO
ELIMINATE PM'
LAHORE, Oct 4, 1996: Pakistan People's Party's secretary-general Senator
Rafiq Ahmad Sheikh feels that the murder of Mir Murtaza Bhutto may be a
prelude to physical elimination of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and a
planned conspiracy to finish the PPP.
"As long as Mir Murtaza Bhutto was alive, Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto was
safe. Now there is a growing feeling in the party ranks that both the party
chairperson and the PPP are exposed to the threat of elimination. As such, the
killing of Murtaza is nothing short of a planned conspiracy to roll back the
political and democratic process which largely owes to the heroic struggle of
the People's Party", Mr. Sheikh told Dawn on Friday.
"The only conclusion one can draw is that killers of Murtaza Bhutto can be
traced from among the opponents of the PPP and Ms Benazir Bhutto", he
said. According to him, he knew that the prime minister had told her brother
during their last meeting in the Prime Minister's House, that he could have
been an asset for the party had he not parted ways. One could infer from this
that Murtaza was destined to play a role in the PPP. He said after the meeting
relationship between the brother and the sister had become "very cordial" and
they used to exchange gifts on the birthdays of their children. This might
have sent "danger signals" to the forces opposed to the PPP and Ms Benazir
Bhutto, he said.
On the question of charges of rampant corruption, Senator Sheikh said the
government was seized of the matter of drafting a bill "to eradicate corrupt
practices at the highest level". The bill was being prepared with the objective
of proceeding against all former and present legislators against whom
charges of corruption were levelled. "We believe that an overwhelming
majority of holders of public office, including presidents, prime ministers,
governors, chief ministers and legislators in the past and at present, were
honest and clean. We want all of them to clear their position in an inquiry."
Those found guilty would face punishment. The bill provides penalties and
forfeiture of property in addition to disqualification from taking part in
political activity for seven years, he added.
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