American journalist and lobbyist Mark Siegel testified before an anti-terrorism court that former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf had barred former prime minister Benazir Bhutto from coming back to Pakistan, DawnNews reported on Thursday.
This he said while recording his statement with the anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi in Benazir Bhutto assassination case via video link from America.
Siegel recorded in his statement “Musharraf had told Benazir that her life would be in danger if she returns to Pakistan”.
The American journalist claimed that this conversation happened on mobile phone, as Musharraf called the former prime minister when he was present with her.
After hearing Musharraf’s remarks, Benazir mentioned that it was the former general’s responsibility to provide security to her, said Siegel. “On which Musharraf said to Benazir that provision of security depends on their mutual understanding and relations.”
Siegel further said that Benazir sent him an important email after reaching Pakistan in which she had said “if something happens to her Musharraf should be held responsible for that”.
He claimed that Benazir was shivering after she answered the call from Musharraf, saying that the former general used abusive language during the conversation.
“My last meeting with Benazir was at a hotel in Washington in which she said that Musharraf is threatening her, but she will still travel to Pakistan.”
The American journalist further claimed that Benazir had written a letter to Musharraf in which she had mentioned that “certain officials of an intelligence agency of a Middle Eastern country are planning her assassination”.
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