BB murder case: Prosecutor claims govt pulled his security

RAWALPINDI: A senior member of the prosecution in the Benazir Bhutto murder case has claimed that the Punjab government withdrew his security detail despite knowing that he has received several threats. Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar informed Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) Special Judge Pervaiz Ismail Joya on Saturday that he had been facing security threats, but the provincial government is not providing him with security. During a hearing of the Benazir Bhutto murder case, the public prosecutor told the court, “I am facing security threats. If I am not provided with the required security, I will disassociate myself from this case.” Azhar said that he had been provided security earlier, but the Punjab Government recently recalled the police officials deputed to protect him. During the hearing, defense lawyers also cross-examined four prosecution witnesses in the former premier’s murder case. However, due to absence of two lawyers, the court issued fresh summonses to two prosecution witnesses ordering them to appear before the court on the next date of hearing. Former City Police Officer (CPO) Saud Aziz, Rawal Town SP Khurram Shehzad and former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s lawyer Javed Safdar were also in the courtroom. The court adjourned the hearing till 22 February, 2014 while re-issuing the notices to two prosecution witnesses. After the hearing, the FIA prosecutor told the media that he was contesting a high profile case on behalf of the state, but the state is not providing him with any security. Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2014.