Mir Murtaza Bhutto murder case

Benazir didn’t answer her phone, Asif disconnected the line....

When Ghinwa Bhutto received news that her husband, Mir Murtaza Bhutto, had been shot, she immediately rang the then-prime minister (and her sister-in-law), Benazir Bhutto; the latter, however, did not answer her phone. Ghinwa Bhutto then called Benazir Bhutto’s husband, Asif Ali Zardari, who picked up the phone but disconnected the line without hearing details of the incident, said Rao Imran Ashfaq, a reporter of an evening newspaper, while testifying as a defence witness in the murder case of Mir Murtaza Bhutto and his six comrades.Ashfaq was testifying in the court of Additional District and Session Judge (ADSJ)-East Aftab Ahmed Khan on Saturday, where he was summoned as a witness of two accused police officials, Shahid Hayat and Rai Mohammed Tahir. A police official, Inspector Haider Ali, also testified as a defence witness of the accused.The reporter said that he received this information from a servant of 70-Clifton, Noor Mohammed, who he met at Mid East Hospital where Murtaza Bhutto was taken. Mohammed is also the complainant in the case. Ashfaq said that according to Mohammed, Murtaza’s daughter Fatima Bhutto received a call about her father’s death, after which Ghinwa Bhutto made the calls. Ashfaq said that he received information on the night of September 20, 1996 between 10pm and 10.30pm that Murtaza Bhutto and his companions had been shot dead near 70-Clifton. He immediately rushed to the hospital, where he met various personnel, including Noor Mohammed. It was Mohammed who briefed Asfaq about the incident, and told him that he heard gun shots around 8.45pm, while the gates of 70 and 71-Clifton were shut. The reporter also produced the copy of the newspaper in which he had reported the entire conversation with Noor Mohammed.When Deputy District Public Prosecutor (DDPP) Mazhar Qayyum asked Ashfaq if he reached the site of the incident, he replied that he only reached the hospital. When asked if he confirmed the information provided by Mohammed, he replied in the negative. Another defence counsel, Adam Bin Jaffery, asked if media personnel were present at the scene of the incident, to which Ashfaq said that a large number of journalists had gathered at the hospital. When asked if any police official created hindrances, he again replied in the negative. The second witness, Inspector Haider Ali, told the court that he was posted at Nabi Bux Police Station at the time of the incident. He was directed to head towards Mid East Hospital, where he was posted at the main gate. Later, the sub-division magistrate (SDM)-South ordered him to drop Mohammed back to 70 Clifton. While on their way, he asked Mohammed what had happened and where was he (Mohammed) at the time of incident. Mohammed told him that he was at Murtaza Bhutto’s residence when he heard the gunshots. Ali also told the court that his entire conversation with Mohammed was reported to the SDMs. When asked if his statement was recorded by any police official, he said that Ali Gohar Mithani and Hussain Asghar had examined him.After hearing the testimonies of both witnesses, ADSJ-East Khan adjourned the hearing till November 19, when arguments will be heard from both sides.While proceedings were taking place, supporters of Murtaza Bhutto thronged the court’s corridors in large number but they were prevented from entering court premises. High security alert was declared in the court, and stick-wielding police officials were called to guard the premises. After the conclusion of proceedings, the supporters entered the court room to inquire about the next date. Later, they started sloganeering against President Asif Ali Zardari and the police officials, and demanded that the accused are sentenced to death....