Guardian : Pakistan Says It Tried to Protect Bhutto

Pakistan Says It Tried to Protect Bhutto

By ASHRAF KHAN | Associated Press Writer | October 20, 2007

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan's government dismissed former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's charge that high-ranking officials may have tried to kill her, saying Saturday that it had done everything possible to protect her triumphant return from exile.

Bhutto blamed al-Qaida and Taliban militants for the suicide bombing that missed her but killed 136 others Thursday. But she also hinted Friday that followers of former military ruler Gen. Zia ul-Haq - and possibly current government officials - could have been involved.

"I think we should stop playing blame games. The government provided the best possible security to her," Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim told The Associated Press. "The trauma of the attack has made them say things which probably in coolness of things they will not repeat."

"People's names have been mentioned and names have been hinted at without giving any reason or without giving any proof of their involvement, and that is unfair," he said.

The list of people who could have targeted the pro-Western Harvard and Oxford graduate is long. Bhutto has lashed out at remnants of the regime of Zia, who seized power in 1977, then arrested and hanged Bhutto's father, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, for allegedly conspiring to murder a political opponent.

She said many of the same men are fanning elements determined to destabilize Pakistan. Islamic extremists could also be bent on stopping a female political leader from modernizing Pakistan.

Her rambling comments during a Friday night press conference left many questions unanswered, but also made it clear she believed powerful Pakistanis bore responsibility.

"I'm not accusing the government, but certain individuals who abuse their positions and powers," she said. "I know in my heart who my enemies are."

Authorities say the suicide bombing bore the hallmarks of a pro-Taliban warlord and the al-Qaida terror network. Officials said the attack began with a man throwing a grenade into a sea of people following Bhutto's convoy, then blowing himself up with a device packed with nuts and bolts.

It was one of the deadliest attacks in Pakistan's history, turning Bhutto's jubilant homecoming after eight years in exile into a scene of carnage. Officials at six hospitals in Karachi reported 136 dead and about 250 wounded.

On Saturday, officials said it remained unclear who was responsible.

"So far we cannot say it was done by al-Qaida, but the investigations are still going on," said Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao.

Bhutto supporters, meanwhile, said they were not yet even sure if the probe could be trusted.

"We will watch it carefully and respond and give our reaction depending on how it goes," said Farhatullah Babar, a spokesman for Bhutto's party.

Pakistani television showed footage Friday of what it said was the severed head of the suspected suicide bomber - an unshaven man in his 20s with curly hair and green eyes.

It remains unclear what effect the attack will have on the talks between Bhutto and President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who have been in talks about a power-sharing agreement. Their talks yielded immunity for Bhutto on the corruption charges that made her leave Pakistan. Musharraf, a key U.S. ally, phoned Bhutto on Friday to express his condolences.

Karachi, a normally boisterous city of 15 million, remained largely subdued Saturday, with shopping malls and gas stations closed in several neighborhoods.

In a few areas, though, Bhutto supporters burned tires and threw stones at cars.

"They are expressing their anguish over the attack on their leader and the deaths of so many people," said Fayaz Khan, a senior police officer in Karachi. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

In the aftermath of the attack, Azim also said while parliamentary elections expected for January will be held on time, officials are considering banning political rallies in the run up to the vote to "counter threats to security."

Bhutto was meeting Saturday with leaders of her party. Babar said how the party would campaign in the aftermath of the bombing was "top of the agenda."

Bhutto's procession had been creeping toward the center of Karachi for 10 hours Thursday when a small explosion erupted near the front of the vehicle. That was quickly followed by a larger blast, destroying two escorting police vans.

The 54-year-old leader had descended into the bulletproof bus' interior to rest when the attack occurred.

"Something in my heart told me that this is not a firecracker, it is a suicide attack," she said Friday. "You could see the light, and then as we waited for 30 seconds to 60 seconds, we heard the sound and saw the huge orange light and bodies spilling all over."

Bhutto said she also heard shots fired - possibly indicating multiple attackers. She said streetlights were not working and cell phone access was down at the time of the attack. She praised her security guards and said there were two bombers. Police said there was one.

Before her arrival, Bhutto said, she was warned suicide squads had been dispatched to kill her.

"There was one suicide squad from the Taliban elements, one suicide squad from al-Qaida, one suicide squad from Pakistani Taliban and a fourth - a group - I believe from Karachi," she said.

She said telephone numbers of suicide squads had been given to her by a "brotherly" country and she alerted Musharraf in a letter dated Oct. 16. She also said she had told Musharraf that three officials - whom she would not name - were planning suicide attacks on her.

Associated Press writers Matthew Pennington in Karachi and Sadaqat Jan in Islamabad contributed to this report.