Bhutto asked to defend her seat

Islamabad - The former Pakistani prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, and her husband have been asked to present their cases for keeping…

Islamabad - The former Pakistani prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, and her husband have been asked to present their cases for keeping their parliamentary seats on Saturday, the country's leading election official said yesterday.

A statement from the Chief Election Commissioner, Justice Abdul Qadeer Chaudhry's office said he issued notices setting Saturday for hearing arguments from the couple and the government. Last Thursday a two-judge Ehtesab (accountability) Bench convicted the couple of corruption for receiving kickbacks while giving a state contract to a Swiss firm when Bhutto was prime minister.