Bhutto’s husband blames Pakistani intelligence

The husband of former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto blamed a Pakistani intelligence agency for two bombs that killed scores of people during her homecoming parade Thursday.

“We blame one intelligence agency and we demand action against it... it is not done by militants, it is done by that intelligence agency,” Bhutto’s husband Asif Ali Zardari told private ARY ONE television.

“Our people have died, our workers have died, they have sacrificed their lives for the sake of democracy in Pakistan.”

Sources from Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) said Zaradri was referring to the Intelligence Bureau, the country’s premier civilian spy agency, headed by retired Brigadier Ijaz Shah, a close aide of Musharraf. The agency, one of three operating in Pakistan, was not immediately available for comment.

Bhutto said ahead of her return that she feared former military officers would try to assassinate her on her return.

“It is a very, very big security lapse,” said senior PPP member Taj Haider.

Bhutto “said some people who are retired from intelligence agencies still have close links with extremist elements and they may use them to mount attacks on her,” he said.

“The danger has already been expressed. The government was aware of it.”

Pakistan’s most well-known spy agency is Inter-services Intelligence (ISI), which is run by the military. Its former head, General Ashfaq Kiyani, has been designated as Musharraf’s successor as army chief when he steps down.

The other intelligence agency operating in the country is Military intelligence (MI), whose main job is to spy on three formations of the armed forces. It has expanded its role into politics under Musharraf.

Karachi, Friday, AFP