An Exclusive Interview: Who murdered Benazir Bhutto? (Part Two)

 

"I concur with the findings of the UN report. Although the report does not carry any substantial finding in terms of exactly nominating a culprit, the fact of the matter is that the circumstances indicate involvement of Pervez Musharraf’s government." -  File Photo: Late Mrs. Benazir Bhutto

by Nilantha Ilangamuwa

AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. AYESHA SIDDIQA OF PAKISTAN

Please click here to read part on of this interview

(November 27, Islamabad, Sri Lanka Guardian) Q. Lets talks about Pakistan, specifically. How you see the developments after the passage of the Kerry Logger Bill passed by the US congress?

Ans: The Kerry-Lugar bill resulted in enhanced tension between the civilian government and the military. The later would never allow a civilian government to strengthen itself. Since the introduction of the said bill, the military is trying its best to weaken and destabalize the government. The rumor mill is constantly active churning out stories that undermine the government. This is not to suggest that the government is not incompetent. It becomes hugely problematic when the government is incompetent and inefficient. However, none of the stories against the government have an ending. Today, the popular opinion seems to be that remove President Asif Zardari and Pakistan will be saved. His departure through extra-political means will not solve the corruption or the political instability problem. The military is corrupt itself. It is punishing the political government for trying to counterpoise itself as an alternative to the army in front of the US.

Q. How do you view the role of the Army in Pakistani politics after the 18th amendment in the constitution?

Ans: I don’t see things change in Pakistan, at least, in the foreseeable future. The NRO issue is still alive. This pertains to the National Reconciliation Ordinance signed between the (late) Benazir Bhutto and former President and army chief Pervez Musharraf according to which all cases of corruption and other charges will be withdrawn against her and she will be allowed to return to Pakistan in return for providing support to the dictator. Later, they parted ways and we witnessed her assassination. Bhutto’s husband Asif Ali Zardari, who became the President of Pakistan, tried to weaken the military through the 18th amendment which basically introduces provincial autonomy in the country. It is not just political autonomy but financial autonomy as well which will eventually weaken the state bureaucracy. However, this also means that the military and its intelligence agencies will continue to weaken the political leadership in the provinces to ensure that provincial autonomy doesn’t become effective. In any case, the provincial political leadership and bureaucracy is too fragile and major issues still unresolved regarding the command and control of bureaucracy for provincial autonomy to become effective.

Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa

 "The defense budget should be discussed in the parliament. The reason for not disclosing it historically is that it can reveal the state of military preparedness. However, this is false as the enemy can use several methods to interpret the state of military readiness of a state. The PPP government promised to reveal greater details of the defense budget. It was done once but never repeated."

Q. Regarding corruption in Pakistan, why are Pakistani courts not accepting cases against serving generals?

Ans: This is because the courts are part of the establishment. Pakistan’s constitutional history bears witrness to the fact that the higher judiciary has always justified military coup according to Kelsen’s law of necessity. Currently, the higher judiciary is hearing the missing person’s case as well in which military and its intelligence agencies are also involved. The case pertains to people who were allegedly picked up by local or international intelligence agencies and have been missing since. It is precisely due to the military’s involvement that there is little movement in this issue. The judges will never take any step to curb military’s power even though they claim that their judgment on Pervez Musharraf’s emergency (imposed in November 2007) has permanently blocked the military’s access to power. The powerful army in Pakistan is now using the judiciary to play ball with the political system.

Q. The UN recently released a report on the murder of Benazir Bhutto, in which it was pointed out that General Musharraf’s government is responsible for her murder for not providing her proper security. The report also pointed out that Intelligence agencies like, ISI and the military intelligence agency (MI) were responsible. What is your reaction to that?

Ans: I concur with the findings of the UN report. Although the report does not carry any substantial finding in terms of exactly nominating a culprit, the fact of the matter is that the circumstances indicate involvement of Pervez Musharraf’s government. The manner in which the venue was immediately cleaned of all the evidence shows that the orders probably came from the top. In any case, isn’t Baitullah Mehsud, who is accused of killing Benazir Bhutto, declared by the head of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lt. General Shuja Pasha as patriot and nationalist. The military continues to have links with some militants and fight some others. Thus far, we know that the military had tense relations with Baitullah Mehsud. However, the above statement which was part of General Pasha’s interview to the German weekly Der Spiegel tells another story.


Q. The defense budget is generally not discussed in parliament. Do you think it should be talked about when Parliament is in session?

Ans: Of course, the defense budget should be discussed in the parliament. The reason for not disclosing it historically is that it can reveal the state of military preparedness. However, this is false as the enemy can use several methods to interpret the state of military readiness of a state. The PPP government promised to reveal greater details of the defense budget. It was done once but never repeated.

Q. How important is political transparency when the military budget is the subject, especially when the country is in a state of war?

Ans: This is a different kind of a war that we are fighting in Pakistan. Our enemy is internal which means that hiding defense budgetary figures does not make sense. In any case, there are far greater sources of information available today which make it less important for the enemy to make guesses from your financial allocation. Hiding defense budgetary figures does not make sense in this day and age.

To be continued ….