Public Intelligence

Pakistanese president Benazir Bhutto arrives at Elysee Palace to attend the G7 lunch, on July 13, 1989 in Paris. GERARD FOUET/AFP

Pakistan minister resigns over remarks against military (AFP):

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said one of his defence ministers had resigned Sunday in a controversy over remarks the minister had made about the country’s military.

In comments reported by Pakistani media, Defence Production Minister Abdul Qayum Jatoi had implied Saturday that the army was responsible for the deaths of civilians and politicians including former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Gilani said had summoned Jatoi to a meeting on Saturday evening to explain the remarks.

“The minister made his remarks in his personal capacity and resigned four to five hours later,” Gilani told reporters.

However, the state-run Pakistan Television said Jatoi had resigned during his meeting with the prime minister.

Jatoi’s comments, made in the southwestern city of Quetta, were repeatedly telecast by private TV channels in Pakistan.

“We provided the army with uniforms and boots, not to kill their own countrymen, kill Nawab Akbar Bugti and Benazir Bhutto,” Jatoi said.

Bugti, a rebel Baluch tribal chieftain, was killed in a military operation in August 2006 and Baluch nationalists have accused former military ruler Pervez Musharraf of ordering his execution.

Bhutto was killed in a gun and suicide attack in the garrison town of Rawalpindi in December 2007.

Army assassinated Benazir: Minister (The Hindu):

While Mr. Jatoi accused the Army of killing the former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, and Nawab Akbar Bugti, he alleged Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry had a “fake” domicile certificate of Balochistan though he was a native of Faislabad in Punjab.

Mr. Jatoi’s remarks came at a time when the government is under siege for its “poor response” to the devastating floods and a possible face-off with the Supreme Court over reopening cases in Swiss courts against President Asif Ali Zardari; triggering speculations of a regime change.



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