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Poll: Government killed Bhutto
13/01/2008 16:01 - (SA)
Chris Brummitt
Islamabad - Nearly half of Pakistanis suspect that government agencies or government-linked politicians killed Benazir Bhutto, an opinion poll has shown, highlighting popular mistrust in the country's US-allied president ahead of elections next month.
Bhutto, an opposition leader and former prime minister, was killed in a gun and suicide bomb attack on December 27.
The government of President Pervez Musharraf has blamed the assassination on Islamic extremists who had already reportedly threatened to kill her. Bhutto was a secular politician popular in the United States and other Western countries for her vocal opposition to hardline Islam.
But her political party and family members have repeatedly made vague allegations that elements within Musharraf's government may have been involved. Musharraf has denied any role in the slaying.
The opinion poll, seen by The Associated Press on Sunday, showed that 23% of Pakistanis suspected government agencies in the slaying, while 25% believed government-allied politicians were behind it. Only 17% suspected al-Qaeda or Taliban.
The poll by Gallup Pakistan, which is affiliated with the Gallup International polling group, questioned 1 300 men and women in face-to-face interviews across Pakistan soon after Bhutto's slaying. It had a margin of error of plus or minus five percentage points. Findings questioned Information Minister Nisar Memon questioned the poll and its findings.
"I don't think this is representative of the thought process of the people of Pakistan and neither does it reflect the realities," he said of the survey. "It is very clear that people know that it is the terrorists who are responsible."
Musharraf, who has himself survived at least three assassination attempts blamed on militants, seized power eight years ago in a military coup. His popularity was already low before the Bhutto assassination amid demands for greater democratic rule.
Allegations of state involvement in Bhutto's death have been fuelled by apparent government inconsistencies over precisely how she died. Video footage shows a man firing at her from close range as she poked her head through the sunroof of her vehicle. Seconds later, the car was struck by a large explosion.
The government initially said she died when the force of the blast propelled her head into the sunroof of her vehicle.
Her supporters say she was shot dead, as some video footage of the incident appears to support.
- SAPA
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