Musharraf's close aide, family flee to UAE to avoid quizzing in Bhutto assassination case

Islamabad, Apr.27 (ANI): Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf's close aide Tariq Aziz has fled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), along with his family, to avoid being interrogated by a fact finding committee, which has been formed by Prime Minister Yosuf Raza Gilani to probe former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination.

According to reports, Aziz, his wife, two daughters and son-in-law took the first flight available to the UAE on Sunday soon after former Military Intelligence chief Major General Nadim Aijaz was summoned by the fact finding committee for interrogation.

Insiders said that Aziz remained in constant touch with Aijaz on December 27, 2007, the day Bhutto was killed in a gun and bomb attack in Rawalpindi.

Speculations are also rife that Aziz along with Aijaz had ordered their subordinates to wash off the crime scene at the Liaqaut Bagh in an attempt to destroy vital evidence.

Meanwhile, Gilani's advisor for Youth Affairs Mian Muhammad Ayub has said that the masterminds of Bhutto's murder cannot escape punishment, notwithstanding how powerful they may be.

"If inquiry committee finds any evidence against ex-president Pervez Musharraf's involvement in it, he would be brought back through Interpol," Ayub told mediapersons after offering floral tributes to Bhutto outside the Liaqat Bagh.

He said strict action would be taken against the perpetrators, whosoever is held responsible for the crime in the fact-finding commission's report.

"I assure the whole nation that killers will be unveiled and they would be strictly taken to the law. No body was nominated in the UN's report however investigation committee has started proceedings and as and when its report is finalized, action will be taken against those found involved in the murdering Benazir. They might be hanged," Ayub said. (ANI)