Musharraf: Pakistan’s ‘Rogue’ State May Have Helped Kill Benazir Bhutto

In an interview marking the 10th anniversary of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf admitted to the BBC that “rogue” elements of the country’s establishment may have conspired with the Taliban in the murder of the former prime minister. Asked about possible involvement of these establishment forces in Bhutto’s death, Musharraf said: “Possibility. Yes indeed. Because the society is polarized on religious lines.” Though he said his assessment was a hunch without proof, Musharraf said: “I don’t have any facts available. But my assessment is very accurate I think... A lady who is known to be inclined towards the West is seen suspiciously by those elements.” Musharraf, who is in exile in Dubai, himself faces murder charges in the Bhutto case. Family members and journalists say they witnessed a threatening phone call to Bhutto from Musharraf in the months before she died in a suicide-bomb attack at a campaign rally on Dec. 27, 2007. Musharraf denied making the call, telling the BBC, “Honestly I laugh at it. Why would I kill her?” Until now, Pakistan’s establishment has denied all claims of complicity in the country’s violent jihadi attacks.