Independent inquiry should probe Bhutto case: Imran Khan

Imran Khan, Leader, Tehreek-e-Insaf said, “It's very easy to palm off killing by saying say al-Qaeda or Taliban or terrorists (are behind this). Who is to know what really happened?  There should have been an inquiry exactly after the first attempt against Benazir.  It’s so easy to say al-Qaeda targeted her. There has to be an independent inquiry and at the moment there isn’t any.  Which opposition leader now is going to hold public rallies?”

Khan was speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, CNBC-TV18 reported.    

Excerpts from the press conference addressed by Imran Khan:

Q: Has the evidence been washed away?

A: This is not the first time that has happened. Last year the entire leadership of a political organization, Sunni Tehrik was blown up, 44 people were killed in Karachi. The Sunni Tehrik organization which was blown up, to this day, blame the government. We do not know anything because there is no independent justice system; no one knows what happened. If the government is blamed, the government is supposed to do the inquiry and therefore, I think there cannot be elections under such circumstances. We need an independent judiciary; we need the judiciary to be restored. As I said forget the opposition; are the government candidates going to go out and election in this circumstance. How can you have elections?          

Q: Do you feel safe going back to Pakistan now?

A: I don’t feel threatened I would say. But we don’t know anyone can be bombed off in Pakistan and would say al-Qaeda did it. Benazir Bhutto was considered pro-American, so she was always under threat. But why was Nawaz Sharif’s rally targeted? Five people were killed there yesterday. He is not considered as part of an American plan to fight terrorism. So, therefore, we don’t know who is doing it?  I mean one could have an attack on any Opposition leader and claim that it was al-Qaeda.

For complete press conference, watch video...