The Bhutto Murder Trail: from Waziristan to GHQ

Keynote : A candid and well researched analysis of the assassination of one of the world's most charistmatic leaders, Benazir Bhutto. The author is not afraid to speak his mind about who killed Benazir - and why her assassins cannot be brought to book. As Benazir Bhutto's 3rd death anniversary falls on 27 December, this is a book which needs to be read, in India and across the borders. Drawing on personal anecdotes, meetings, off-the-record conversations with Benazir Bhutto, and the emails that he exchanged with her just before her death, Amir Mir brings us a carefully documented reconstruction of the assassination that rocked the world, the events leading to it, and its aftermath. His meticulously researched book is also a chilling expose of the symbiotic relationship between Pakistan's formidable military and intelligence agencies, and the radical Islamic terrorist groups entrenched there. From the murky details of the 'election rigging cells' that Bhutto was on the brink of exposing, inside information about her 'designated killers', the dubious security cover, the wanton destruction of evidence at the crime scene, the cover-up that began soon after the murder, the scapegoats, the arbitrary arrests and the compromised investigations, to the outright deceptions of various military top brass and even members of her own party, the book reveals it all. Other highlights include excerpts from the reports of high-level investigations carried out by different organisations, rare pictures related to the suicide attack on Bhutto's convoy, her last speech delivered minutes before she was killed, and her hand-written 'political will' which her party released after her death. The richly textured narrative is supported by exclusive information that sheds fresh light on various conspiracy theories, and will almost certainly evoke controversy and debate. 'A few moments before being killed, she [Benazir Bhutto] had addressed a mammoth election rally in the historic Liaqat Bagh of Rawalpindi. She was happy as the rally had gone quite well. After it was over, she got into her bulletproof white Toyota Land Cruiser and left...As her vehicle was moving slowly, she noticed that many of the PPP workers and supporters carrying banners and placards were waving at her. So a smiling Bhutto emerged from the sunroof of the jeep to wave to the cheering crowd...While she was waving to the crowd, a man wearing dark glasses appeared on the left...He suddenly pulled out a pistol and fired three shots...Bhutto's white scarf (with which she had covered her head) and her hair flicked upwards after the second shot...and she was seen falling into the vehicle after the third shot was fired. The gunman...then lowered his gun, looked down and detonated his explosive-laden jacket, wreaking havoc.'