This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/04/world/asia/prosecutor-in-bhutto-killing-and-mumbai-attacks-assassinated-in-pakistan.html
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Prosecutor in Bhutto Killing and Mumbai Attacks Assassinated in Pakistan | Prosecutor in Bhutto Killing and Mumbai Attacks Assassinated in Pakistan |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MULTAN, Pakistan – Gunmen on Friday fatally shot a Pakistani prosecutor who had been investigating the murder of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the 2008 Mumbai attacks, carrying out an assassination that threw into turmoil Pakistan’s most politically charged cases. | |
| Assailants opened fire on the prosecutor, Chaudhry Zulfikar Ali, as he drove to work from his home in a suburb of the capital, Islamabad, for a court hearing in which the former military leader, Pervez Musharraf, faces charges in relation to Ms. Bhutto’s death in 2007. | |
| Initial reports said that gunmen traveling by motorbike and car sprayed Mr. Ali’s car with bullets, lightly wounding his bodyguard and killing a woman passer-by when his car veered out of control. Television footage from the scene showed a bullet-riddled car crashed by the roadside. | Initial reports said that gunmen traveling by motorbike and car sprayed Mr. Ali’s car with bullets, lightly wounding his bodyguard and killing a woman passer-by when his car veered out of control. Television footage from the scene showed a bullet-riddled car crashed by the roadside. |
| Mr. Ali died before he reached a hospital in Islamabad, where a doctor said he had been shot 13 times. Police said that Mr. Ali’s bodyguard returned fire and managed to wound one of the attackers, who then fled the scene. | Mr. Ali died before he reached a hospital in Islamabad, where a doctor said he had been shot 13 times. Police said that Mr. Ali’s bodyguard returned fire and managed to wound one of the attackers, who then fled the scene. |
| There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack and the police said it was too early to comment on a possible motive. But few doubted it was linked to Mr. Ali’s work as a state prosecutor in some of the most sensitive cases in the country, and his death reinforced the vulnerability of senior government officials who challenge Islamist militants and other powerful, if sometimes hidden, interests. | There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack and the police said it was too early to comment on a possible motive. But few doubted it was linked to Mr. Ali’s work as a state prosecutor in some of the most sensitive cases in the country, and his death reinforced the vulnerability of senior government officials who challenge Islamist militants and other powerful, if sometimes hidden, interests. |
| Mr. Ali represented the Federal Investigation Agency, which has implicated Mr. Musharraf in the case of Ms. Bhutto, who was assassinated in December 2007, just before the last election. But he was also involved in another sensitive case: the trial of seven people from the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba who have been charged with orchestrating the Mumbai attacks of November 2008, which killed more than 160 people. | Mr. Ali represented the Federal Investigation Agency, which has implicated Mr. Musharraf in the case of Ms. Bhutto, who was assassinated in December 2007, just before the last election. But he was also involved in another sensitive case: the trial of seven people from the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba who have been charged with orchestrating the Mumbai attacks of November 2008, which killed more than 160 people. |
| Mr. Ali was to appear in both cases this week. After the previous hearing of the Bhutto case on April 30, Mr. Ali told reporters he had “solid evidence” that connected Mr. Musharraf with Ms. Bhutto’s death. | Mr. Ali was to appear in both cases this week. After the previous hearing of the Bhutto case on April 30, Mr. Ali told reporters he had “solid evidence” that connected Mr. Musharraf with Ms. Bhutto’s death. |
| Since Mr. Musharraf’s return from exile last month, investigators have questioned the former president about the security arrangements for Ms. Bhutto in 2007. | Since Mr. Musharraf’s return from exile last month, investigators have questioned the former president about the security arrangements for Ms. Bhutto in 2007. |
| Rehman Malik, an aide of Ms. Bhutto and a former interior minister, has accused Mr. Musharraf of failing to provide Ms. Bhutto with adequate security. Mr. Musharraf has denied those accusations and insisted that, as head of state, he was not involved in administrative matters. | Rehman Malik, an aide of Ms. Bhutto and a former interior minister, has accused Mr. Musharraf of failing to provide Ms. Bhutto with adequate security. Mr. Musharraf has denied those accusations and insisted that, as head of state, he was not involved in administrative matters. |
| Mr. Ali was due to appear in court on Saturday for another highly sensitive case, this one involving Islamist militancy and relations with India. | Mr. Ali was due to appear in court on Saturday for another highly sensitive case, this one involving Islamist militancy and relations with India. |
| Seven members of the banned group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which carried out the 2008 Mumbai attacks in India, have been on trial since 2009. They stand accused of orchestrating the slaughter from Pakistan and include the group’s operational head, Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi. But the hearings have been characterized by opacity and a lethargic pace. | Seven members of the banned group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which carried out the 2008 Mumbai attacks in India, have been on trial since 2009. They stand accused of orchestrating the slaughter from Pakistan and include the group’s operational head, Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi. But the hearings have been characterized by opacity and a lethargic pace. |
| The trial is taking place at Adila jail in Rawalpindi, ostensibly on security grounds, and the media is barred from proceedings. Hearings have been repeatedly adjourned because of the absence of lawyers or the presiding judge. Currently, defense lawyers are cross-examining the prosecution witnesses. | |
| Lashkar-e-Taiba was founded with help from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate in the 1990s, and its presumed leader Muhammad Hafiz Saeed lives openly in the eastern city of Lahore. The ISI says it has cut all links with the group. | |
| Mr. Ali’s death comes at a sensitive time, with Pakistanis due to go to the polls for a general election on May 11. Campaigning has been marred by widespread Taliban violence against candidates from secular parties. | Mr. Ali’s death comes at a sensitive time, with Pakistanis due to go to the polls for a general election on May 11. Campaigning has been marred by widespread Taliban violence against candidates from secular parties. |
| Although Islamabad suffered a number of militant attacks in 2008 and 2009, it has escaped major violence in recent years. But several prominent figures have been assassinated on its streets, including the former Punjab governor Salman Taseeer and a minister for religious affairs. | |
| Mr. Musharraf, who returned from exile in order to contest the election last month, faces charges in several cases related to his time in power, including the murder of Ms. Bhutto, the killing of a Baloch nationalist leader, and the firing of senior judges. | Mr. Musharraf, who returned from exile in order to contest the election last month, faces charges in several cases related to his time in power, including the murder of Ms. Bhutto, the killing of a Baloch nationalist leader, and the firing of senior judges. |
| The retired general has been disqualified from contesting the election and earlier this week a court banned him from politics for life. He also faces possible treason charges. | |
| In the court hearing in nearby Rawalpindi, lawyers for Mr. Musharraf argued that he should be exempted from appearing in person in the case, Pakistani television stations reported. The hearing was adjourned until May 14. | In the court hearing in nearby Rawalpindi, lawyers for Mr. Musharraf argued that he should be exempted from appearing in person in the case, Pakistani television stations reported. The hearing was adjourned until May 14. |
Salman Masood contributed reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan. | Salman Masood contributed reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan. |