Malik says 27 terrorist groups involved in Benazir’s murder
| DAWN |
KARACHI: It seems as though not much has been achieved in the Benazir Bhutto murder case as Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Tuesday not only admitted that planners of the murder are still at large, but also insisted that more time is required to collect further evidence.
Malik shared this and other details of the investigation of the former prime minister and Pakistan People’s Party chairperson’s murder case while briefing the Sindh Assembly session.
He blamed Baitullah Mehsud, the Haqqani network and the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for planning the murder and said 27 terrorist groups helped in executing the plan.
Malik and the Chief of Joint Investigation Team Khalid Qureshi gave a detail presentation with the help of audio/video footage, showing the suspects involved in the case.
The Sindh lawmakers were told that the conspiracy was hatched in Fata and funds for the purpose also came from the same region.
The session was told that al Qaeda and other terrorist organisations had made Bhutto their target since a long time.
Malik said several suspects were arrested during the investigation and 13 were being prosecuted.
He accused former president Pervez Musharraf for not providing adequate security to the former prime minister
He said that the government had decided to bring back Musharraf to the country and for this purpose red warrants would be issued through the Interpol.
A legal expert said Interpol, an international police organisation, has the right to detain Musharraf and hand him over to Pakistan if it chooses to issue a warrant.
The interior minister further revealed that Khalid Shiekh Mohammad and his brother conspired to assassinate Ms Bhutto.
“The government is trying hard to reach the bottom of the case,” he said, expressing hope that the culprits will be brought to justice soon.
