The Hindu : International : Benazir alleges `double standards'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 23, 2004

International

International

Benazir alleges `double standards'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, DEC. 22. Asif Ali Zardari, husband of Benazir Bhutto, was granted bail by a court in the port city of Karachi a day after he was arrested for failing to turn up for a murder case hearing.

Mr. Zardari was detained at the Islamabad airport and sent back to Karachi on Tuesday where he was placed under house arrest, less than a month after he was first freed on bail in the last of 17 cases of corruption, murder and drug smuggling after eight years behind bars. Hours after the court granted the bail, former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, thanked supporters for their messages of support following the arrest of Mr. Asif Zardari Sahib and said re-arrest Mr. Zardari after only 28 days of freedom following eight years of arrest is a sad reflection on the lack of political freedoms and stability in the country.

"The arrest of Asif Sahib shows the double standards of the regime. They permitted the religious parties to hold a public rally and meeting in Rawalpindi. They want to show the people of Pakistan and the world that the choice in Pakistan is between military dictatorship and religious dictatorship", she said in a statement from her exile home in Dubai.

Mrs. Bhutto complained that the regime refused to allow the PPP welcome reception for Mr. Zardari because PPP's popular support would show that democracy is a third choice.

In contrast all political parties, including the ruling Party, the MQM that is against Partition and Independence of Pakistan, are allowed to hold political meetings.

The former Prime Minister said that the manner in which the bail of Mr. Zardari Sahib was cancelled shows how the judicial system in the country is abused.

She claimed that Nazim trial case had not held one hearing for the last four years. Suddenly, and by what convenient coincidence, it woke up to the fact that it should have a hearing on the day that Mr. Zardari was leaving for the Rawalpindi reception, she asked.

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