ISLAMABAD: The counsel for former military ruler retired General Pervez Musharraf informed an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday that the PPP government had paid US lobbyist Mark Siegel $900,000 to project a ‘soft image of Pakistan’.

During Mr Seigel’s cross-examination – conducted via video link – in the Benazir Bhutto murder case, Barrister Farogh Nasim also pointed out that prior to the signing of the $900,000 contract, Mr Seigel had signed a contract to lobby for the international investigation of Benazir Bhutto’s murder as a pro bono case.

The counsel also contended that since Mr Siegel was a paid lobbyist, his testimony could not be treated as independent and impartial.

Counsel for Gen Pervez Musharraf informed an ATC during Mr Seigel’s cross-examination

Barrister Nasim also shared photocopies of the contract signed by Mr Siegel and asked him to verify it. However, the lobbyist refused to verify them, saying that they were copies and he could only verify the original documents. Barrister Nasim asserted that the documents are available on the website of the US Department of Justice and sought more time to submit the originals.

During his cross-examination, Mr Siegel claimed that he was a friend of the Bhutto family and lobbied for them. After 2008, he was engaged by the PPP government for the same purpose.

Mr Siegel had recorded an earlier statement before an ATC on Oct 1, where he had connected Gen Musharraf with Ms Bhutto’s murder on the basis that the former military ruler, despite imminent threats to her life, deliberately deprived Ms Bhutto of the security detail she deserved in her capacity as a former prime minister.

In his statement, the lobbyist claimed that the PPP sought permission from Gen Musharraf to bring foreign security personnel with Ms Bhutto and asked for vehicles with tinted glasses, but both requests were denied.

Mark Seigel’s statement was recorded in-camera at the commissioner’s office in Rawalpindi. In his deposition, he told the court he was Jewish and had sworn an oath on the Old Testament. He said he was a paid lobbyist for PPP and Asif Ali Zardari after 2008, and earlier between 1986 to 1988.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2016