Bhutto's husband freed on bail

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s husband was freed on bail today – 24 hours after he was arrested for failing to appear at a murder trial.

Asif Ali Zardari was arrested when he landed at an airport near Islamabad and accused of plotting the 1996 murders of a former judge and his son.

He had been freed on bail a month ago after eight years in prison in connection with other pending court cases. Zardari denies involvement in the killings.

The arrest prevented him from addressing a major opposition rally near the capital that could have been politically embarrassing to President General Pervez Musharraf.

Tuesday’s events sparked a clash between his supporters and police at an airport near Islamabad. Police said 71 opposition workers were detained in the unrest, and several people were injured.

His latest arrest was a setback for hopes of reconciliation between Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party and Musharraf, who took power in a bloodless coup in 1999 and is currently facing criticism for reneging on a promise to stand down as army chief.

Two judges at Sindh High Court today granted bail and ordered Asif Ali Zardari to be released, his lawyer Abu Bakar Zardari said.