“No regrets” over ‘adequate’ security provided to Benazir: Musharraf

LONDON - While preparing to officially launch his new party and rejoin Pakistan’s turbulent politics, former president Pervez Musharraf has insisted he has “no regrets” about the security provided to Benazir Bhutto on the day of her assassination.

Though Musharraf had left his aides to comment in the aftermath of the United Nations’ report, but in an interview to the former British ambassador to the US- Christopher Meyer- in London, he said he had “no regrets,” The Guardian reported.

“There was adequate security provided, but security in our environment [Pakistan] is, I would say, never adequate,” he added.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Bhutto was killed at a political rally in Rawalpindi in December 2007. A UN report published in April, saying that her assassination could have been prevented, and criticised the Pakistani intelligence services, police and the Musharraf-led government for the security failure.

In comments that might enrage members of her Pakistan People’s Party, Musharraf went on to effectively blame Bhutto for hazarding her life by standing up through the sunroof of her vehicle. She was shot and a suicide bomb was detonated shortly afterwards.

Talking about his comeback into Pakistani politics, Musharraf acknowledged that he was likely to be targeted by extremists, but said he was “prepared to take risks for Pakistan”.

The 67-year-old is set to launch his own party-the All Pakistan Muslim League- on October 1. (ANI)