Benazir Bhutto Murder Case Still Unresolved After 18 Years
Eighteen years after her assassination, the Benazir Bhutto murder case remains unresolved. Pakistan still awaits justice for its first woman prime minister. Therefore, the passage of time has only deepened public frustration.
PPP leaders and workers marked her death anniversary at Liaquat Bagh on December 27. However, the legal process surrounding her killing continues without closure. The case still moves slowly through the courts.
Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on December 27, 2007, after addressing a public rally. Attackers first fired shots and then detonated a suicide bomb. As a result, she lost her life along with 27 party workers.
A Trial Marked by Delays and Setbacks
The case remained under trial for a decade before an Anti-Terrorism Court. In 2017, the court announced its verdict after prolonged proceedings. However, the judgment failed to identify the masterminds.
The court acquitted five accused and labeled them scapegoats. Meanwhile, it sentenced two senior police officers to 17 years in prison for negligence. Both later secured bail and now remain free.
The prosecution also faced serious challenges. For example, senior prosecutor Zulfiqar Chaudhry was assassinated during the trial. In addition, key witnesses failed to withstand cross-examination.
Appeals Still Pending
The case later moved to the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench. Over eight years, the court held only seven procedural hearings. Therefore, meaningful progress never occurred.
Authorities conducted four separate investigations, including a UN inquiry. Despite this, no final accountability emerged. In total, 12 appeals now remain pending before the high court.
Former president Pervez Musharraf was declared a proclaimed offender. However, officials never enforced arrest orders before his death abroad. PPP leaders say they will pursue justice. According to party lawyers, justice may be delayed, but hope still remains alive.
