ISI 145;number one146; accused in Bhutto assassination

A senior Britain-based PPP leader said Bhutto's killing was 'calculated'. He said it was 'a fascist act and ISI and CIA must shoulder responsibility'.

Pakistan8217;s powerful intelligence service, the ISI, is the 8220;number one accused8221; in the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, a senior Britain-based leader of her party has said.

8220;ISI is number one accused for the murder of Ms Bhutto, Pakistan8217;s great leader,8221; Amanullah Khan, a leader of the Pakistan People8217;s Party, said on Wednesday night.

8220;Her assassination is calculated. Her killing is a fascist act and ISI and CIA should shoulder responsibility for her assassination,8221; Khan said at a condolence meeting organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Third-World Solidarity at the Boothroyd Room of House of Commons.

He said Bhutto was longing to go back to Pakistan in her effort to restore democracy there but was 8220;deceived and stabbed in the back by ISI.8221;

Khalid Mahmood, a Labour MP, said Bhutto knew the threat to her life but the 8220;West cajoled and forced her to return to Pakistan.8221;

Lord Nazir Ahmad described Bhutto as a 8220;rare woman who lived and fought for democracy and died for democracy.8221;

He claimed President Pervez Musharraf 8220;is responsible for creating terrorism, extremism and fundamentalism in Pakistan and sooner we get rid of him is better for the country.8221;

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Bhutto8217;s friend at Oxford and journalist Victoria Schofield described the PPP leader as not only 8220;a charismatic politician, but a devoted mother and wife.8221;

Simon Hughes, President of the Liberal Democrats, said Bhutto was not only a leader of Pakistan but she was a leader of the world.

Echoing his words, Imam Sajid said the ex-premier was the 8220;moderate face of Pakistan8221; and 8220;a Muslim leader of the world.8221;

Martin Salter, MP, said Bhutto gave voice to women in Pakistan. 8220;She was also the sole political leader uniting the four provinces of Pakistan.8221;

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Councillor Mushtaq Lasharie said Bhutto was symbol of hope, courage and liberalism but unfortunately 8220;she was followed by death from the moment she landed in Pakistan in last October.8221;

Prince Mohsin Ali Khan, a campaigner for South Asian unity, alleged that relations of Bhutto8217;s slain brothers might also be behind the assassination. He said 8220;democracy can not be manufactured and planted and it takes time for democracy to take roots.8221;