RAWALPINDI - The Federal Investigator Agency (FIA) Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar told an Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) on Thursday that Mark Seigel had phoned him and told that he was not contacted by any official of Pakistani Embassy in New York for providing him video link facility to record statement in the Benazir Bhutto murder case.
“However, I am willing to record my testimony before the ATC in the murder case of former premier of Pakistan,” the prosecutor quoted the main eyewitness as saying. The in-charge US Desk also faced the court and apprised the Foreign Ministry was in contact with Pakistan Embassy in New York in this regard. The court adjourned hearing till July 27.
According to details, Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) Number 1 Special Judge Rai Muhammad Ayub Mark took up BB assassination case in heavily guarded Adiala Jail when FIA Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar argued before the judge that Mark Seigel phoned him from the United States on July 22 on his cell phone and told that no official from Pakistani Embassy in New York has approached him so far for giving him facility of video link for recording his statement in the BB murder case. He added that the key witness in BB murder case Mark Seigel pledged that he would record his statement in BB assassination case. The prosecutor also provided cell number of Mark Seigel to court.
Meanwhile, Shakeeb Raffique, the In-charge of US Desk, appeared before the court and apprised him that our Embassy was in contact with foreign office to provide Mark Seigel with facility of video link in New York.
Despite summoning several times, driver of BB Javed ur Rehman did not appear before the court during the hearing of case to pen in his statement. However, Muhammad Arshad Tabraiz Advocate turned up before the court and submitted power of attorney on behalf of Javed informing the court that he (lawyer) would produce his client before court on next date of hearing. After culminating the arguments, the court adjourned the hearing till July 27, 2015.
In the courtroom, former City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Saud Aziz, former SP Rawal Division Khurram Shehzad besides the five accused who were arrested in connection with BB murder case were also present during the hearing.