Musharraf 'knew Bin Laden was living in Abbottabad', claims ex- ISI chief

Islamabad, Feb 16(ANI): Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf was aware of former Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's hideout in Abbottabad, which was built by Pakistani intelligence agencies, a former Inter-Services Intelligence chief has claimed.

An American news website, The Daily Beast quoted Ziauddin Khwaja, (also known as Ziauddin Butt), as saying that Musharraf "knew Bin Laden was in Abbottabad".

Musharraf had earlier categorically denied having any knowledge of Bin Laden's location.

Khwaja allegedly said that Bin Laden's safe house in Abbottabad "was made to order" by a former intelligence head Brigadier Ijaz Shah.

"Ziauddin says Ijaz Shah was responsible for setting up Bin Laden in Abbottabad, ensuring his safety and keeping him hidden from the outside. And Ziauddin says Musharraf knew all about it," the Express Tribune quoted the article, as saying.

Butt has, however, claimed that he had been misquoted in the article, but refused to divulge details of what he had said which could have been misconstrued.

Butt was appointed to head the ISI by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and served at the post from 1997 to 1999.

The article authored by Central Intelligence Agency official Bruce Riedel also notes that Butt had "a motive to speak harshly about Musharraf". (ANI)