Benazir rejects corruption charges
Ani, Washington
Launching her defence against charges levelled against her, Pakistan s former prime minister Benazir Bhutto said on Thursday that there could not be any warrant issued against her as no court in Pakistan has asked for her to be present. She was responding to a report that Interpol had issued a red corner notice against her and her husband Asif Zardari at Pakistan s behest on corruption charges. Benazir blamed President Muhsarraf for misleading the Interpol. "As far as the red notice is concerned, I learnt about it from the press. My lawyer has written to the ministry of the interior as well as to Interpol. My lawyers asked them to give, to confirm whether the news is accurate, and if so, on what grounds. And, as far as I am concerned, if the court wants me in Pakistan, I am prepared to catch the next plane and go to Pakistan. It is not an issue of evading my presence in a court. No court in Pakistan to my knowledge has asked me to be present, and I believe that Interpol has not been given the correct information by the military regime in Paksitan," said Benazir. The Pakistan government accuses Benazir of stashing millions of dollars in kickbacks in Switzerland. She lives in self-imposed exile in London and Dubai but still leads the People's Party opposed to President Pervez Musharraf. A defiant Benazir said she along with her husband were out on bail and had left the country lawfully.
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