Zardari vows to appeal against Benazir murder case verdict

NAWABSHAH: Former president Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday vowed that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will appeal against the decision in the Benazir Bhutto murder case. Speaking to reporters after Eid prayers here earlier today, Zardari expressed his dissatisfaction with the verdict in the murder case of his deceased wife. ?We are not satisfied with the verdict, we will appeal against it,? he said. The former president reached Nawabshah on Friday to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha, accompanied by his daughters Bakhtawar and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari. He was welcomed by Sindh law minister Zia Lanjar and other PPP leaders. In his Eid message, Zardari said the occasion symbolises the willingness to sacrifice for a cause, and urged people to pledge to live and strive for a cause larger than one?s own self. He also felicitated Muslims throughout the world and particularly those in Pakistan. ?On this occasion I also call upon my countrymen to remember those who have laid down their lives.. we owe a deep debt of gratitude to them,? he added. PPP to appeal ?shocking, disappointing? Benazir murder case verdict PPP said acquittal of Al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects despite evidence is shocking and is apparently a victory for the Al-Qaeda militants The PPP earlier this week rejected the Anti-Terrorism Court?s (ATC) decision in the Benazir murder case as ?disappointing? and said that it will explore legal options to challenge the decision. A meeting presided by party chairman Zardari held consultations on the verdict and expressed shock and disappointment at the decision. The party in a statement said that justice was not done in the case, adding that acquittal of Al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects despite evidence is shocking and apparently a victory for the Al-Qaeda militants. The identity of those who ordered to clean the incident and removal of evidence was not determined, the statement said. The leadership argued that the government had filed a case without taking the party into confidence and asked it to appeal the decision.