Crisis in Pakistan

Confusion prevails on Bhutto's death
NDTV

A day after the Pakistan government claimed that Benazir Bhutto died after she hit her head against the sunroof of her vehicle, comes an outright denial from Benazir's close aide Sherry Rehman, who has accused the government of a cover-up.

This comes on a day when Taliban leader Baihtullah Mehsood has denied that he was involved in the plan to assassinate Benazir. At stake is the credibility of the Pakistan government.

The video clipping released by the Pakistan government shows a man firing at Benazir from point blank range. But the confusion still prevails as to how she died.

The government claims she wasn't shot but hit her head on the SUV's sunroof. There was no post mortem as Benazir's family didn't want it.

But on Saturday, the government that is fighting charges of a cover-up, said it was ready to exhume the body.

''Well, if they don't trust us they can get the body exhumed,'' said Brigadier Javed Cheema, Spokesperson, Pakistan Interior Ministry.

After all, Sherry Rehman, a close aide of Benazir said that she had seen the bullet wounds on Benazir's body. She also alleged that the government was trying to hush up the issue.

''I was actually part of the party which bathed her body before the funeral,'' said Rehman, who added that her car was used to transport Bhutto to hospital.

''There was a bullet wound I saw that went in from the back of her head and came out the other side. We could not even wash her properly because the wound was still seeping.

''The hospital was made to change its statement. They never gave a proper report,'' she said.

''I believe the interior ministry is saying that she died from some concussion that may have taken place against the sunroof,'' she said.

Even, the government appointed security chief to Benazir told NDTV that he does not believe in the government's explanation and that it must explain the security lapses that led to her death.

But that is not the only controversy surrounding Benazir's assassination.

The Pakistani government also released the transcript of a conversation between Taliban leader Baihtullah Mehsood and another militant leader - a conversation that the government spokesman says proves his involvement in the assassination.

In the conversation, Mehsud is seen asking another leader about the men who carried out the strike.

Mehsood denied his involvement, but the government said he is lying.

''We have the tape. We have his voice signature. You have a choice you believe him or you believe the government,'' said Cheema.

There is a reason for this battle of words.

Many Pakistanis buy the PPP's allegations that the government is responsible for what happened, either directly or by deliberately ignoring her pleas for more security.

Many point to a strange scaling down of the police presence at the Liaqat Bagh rally ground.

Pakistan is abuzz with rumours reflective of the atmosphere of mistrust, also perhaps the clearest indicator of the lack of credibility of the Musharraf regime.