Date:31/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/31/stories/2007123153891004.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Unconvincing

The Pakistani establishment’s claim that it has intelligence intercepts indicating that the Al Qaeda killed Benazir because it felt she was close to the U.S. and vowed to finish the mujahideen raises more questions than it answers. It is the Pervez Musharraf regime that is responsible for the anarchy and heightened terrorism in Pakistan. It cannot, therefore, absolve itself of the blame. Why wasn’t a foolproof security cover offered to Benazir, especially since the threat to her life stood alarmingly heightened after a near-successful assassination attempt in October?

Nalini Vijayaraghavan,

Thiruvananthapuram

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Gen. (retd.) Musharraf may have no direct role in Benazir’s assassination. But his lust for power is one of the main reasons for the chaos prevailing in Pakistan. It was his lack of will to put down terrorism with an iron hand that has led to anarchy in the country.

S. Raghavendra Rao,

Nellore

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The government’s statement holding the Al Qaeda responsible for Benazir’s assassination and the declaration that she died not from bullet injury but by hitting her head on the sun roof of the car in which she was travelling appear to be a cover-up.

Cshipra Gupta,

Thiruvananthapuram