Musharraf Shifts Official Pursuing Bhutto Cases

Channels

In Focus

Analysis
Bolography
Cartoons
Environment
Opinion

Columns

Business
My Word
PlainSpeak
Random Thoughts

Our Heritage

Architecture
Astrology
Ayurveda
Buddhism
Cinema
Culture
Dances
Festivals
Hinduism
History
People
Places
Sikhism
Spirituality
Vastu
Vithika

Society & Lifestyle

Family Matters
Health
Parenting
Perspective
Recipes
Society
Teens
Women

Creative Writings

Book Reviews
Ghalib's Corner
Humor
Individuality
Jagoji
Literary Shelf
Love Letters
Memoirs
Musings
Ramblings
Stories
Travelogues

Computing

General Articles
CC++
Flash
Internet Security
Java
Linux
Networking

April 5, 2007
Musharraf Shifts Official
Pursuing Bhutto Cases

Islamabad
A top Pakistani official pursing corruption cases against exiled former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and her husband has been transferred, triggering speculation about a possible rapprochement between her and President Pervez Musharraf.

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) deputy chairman Hasan Wasim Afzal has been sent back to Punjab, the Daily Times said, noting that back-channel negotiations between emissaries of Bhutto and Musharraf "are ostensibly nearing conclusion".

The Nation said Afzal had earlier been "asked to go slow" on the cases pertaining to Bhutto and husband Asif Ali Zardari.

Former minister Sartaj Aziz's name has figured in the media as Musharraf's confidant in engaging Bhutto. Bhutto's spokespersons and leaders of her Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have generally sought to refute such reports.

Such reports have surfaced each time Bhutto has talked to her rival, exiled former premier Nawaz Sharif, or leaders of opposition parties.

Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani said the cases against Bhutto would be pursued in accordance with the law. "The law will take its course. The transfer of Wasim Afzal is a normal routine process," he said.

But another minister, who did not want to be named, said there was a possibility that the government wanted to convey a "positive" massage to Bhutto by transferring Afzal.

Under Afzal, NAB was pursuing cases against Bhutto in Switzerland and Spain as well. A case was also pursued in a British court about Zardari buying a historic villa in England.

Bhutto has said she would return home in time for elections, likely to take place later this year. Musharraf has said that she could not participate in the elections with cases pending against her. She would be arrested on her arrival at the airport.

IANS | April 5, 2007

Top