Pakistan’s top court to resume hearings on hanging of 1st elected Premier Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto

9-judge bench to hear reference on Dec. 12 filed by Asif Ali Zardari, ex-president and co-chairman of Pakistan People’s Party in 2011, seeking to declare Bhutto's execution 'judicial murder'

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistan’s top court on Thursday announced that it resume a long-pending hearing on a presidential reference next week, seeking to declare the hanging of the country’s first elected Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto a “judicial murder."

Bhutto, who served as prime minister from 1973 to 1977, was hanged on April 4, 1979, after being convicted in a murder case by the Lahore High Court. His appeal against the capital punishment was rejected by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

A nine-judge bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa will hear the reference on Dec. 12 filed by Asif Ali Zardari, the former president and co-chairman of Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), in 2011.

The reference's last hearing was held in November 2012.

Bhutto’s elected government was toppled by his hand-picked Army Chief Gen. Zia-ul-Haq in July. 1977.

Kaynak: