Pervez Musharraf murdered my mother: Bilawal Bhutto

Washington, May 25: The then

President

was responsible for the murder of his mother and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, her son and Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said.

"He (Musharraf) murdered my mother (Benazir Bhutto)... I hold him responsible for the murder of my mother," Bilawal Bhutto told the CNN in an interview. When asked why he was saying so, he said, "because he (Musharraf) was aware of the threats. He himself had threatened her in the past. He said your security is directly linked to our relationship and our cooperation."

"When he imposed emergency and it was clear that he was pulling the wool over our eyes, he was not interested in returning democracy to Pakistan and my mother started to speak out more against him, the security decreased," said Bilawal, who is currently on a US visit.

The son of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari said he plans to play a larger role in the next election and join politics. "I am chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party. I didn't campaign in the last election. I went to university. I don't feel like at the moment I have the mandate to take a particularly active role. I look forward to campaigning in the next election and playing a larger role then," he said.

"I would like to help my people in anyway I can. It's difficult times in Pakistan and we all have to help," Bhutto said when asked would he someday like to be the leader of his country.

Responding to a question on his safety in Pakistan, he said, he was not worried. "I am confident that the Pakistani government will provide me with the adequate security, unlike the government at the time that sabotaged my mother's security in Pakistan," Bilawal said.

PTI