Islamabad, April 27: Days after a three-member UN inquiry commission held the administration of General Pervez Musharraf responsible for the 2007 assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, the former dictator was seen dancing enthusiastically at a private party in New York, and he told friends that the commission’s report was a bunch of lies.
According to the English daily The News, the occasion was the mehndi ceremony of the niece of a childhood friend of Musharraf’s wife Sehba at a restaurant at Jericho Turnpike at Long Island, New York.
At about 11pm, Musharraf was asked to join the dance; he accepted the invitation and moments later he was seen dancing to the beats of the dhol (drum), the daily said.
After seeing him dance, a participant said, “I now believe stories that Musharraf would dance with a full glass of liquor on his head with such perfection that not a single drop would fall out of the glass.”
Boota Shaikh, who performed at the party, confirmed that the former army chief had danced on his request. Boota praised him for doing so and making the event memorable. “Musharraf sahib and begum sahiba were so happy that they even gave me money. I am much thankful to them,” he said.
After the dance, when dinner was served, Musharraf reportedly told close friends that the UN report was a bunch of lies and that he was not afraid of its findings and observations on his role in the Bhutto assassination.
Musharraf was quoted as saying that he could not be held responsible for the assassination as he was neither head of government nor army chief at that time.
The former general told close associates that he may sue members of the UN inquiry commission for holding him responsible for the assassination.
—Agencies