Pakistan releases Bhutto's assassination report

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-14 09:59

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani police released a report on Wednesday about the investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister and leader of the opposition People's Party Benazir Bhutto.


Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto waves to her supporters at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Dec. 27, 2007. Bhutto died Thursday as Party security adviser says she was shot in the neck and chest as she got into her vehicle, then gunman blew himself up. At least 20 others were also killed in a blast that took place as Bhutto left the rally. [Xinhua]

Speaking at a news conference in Rawalpindi, Abdul Najeed, assistant inspector general of the Pakistani Police Central Intelligence Department said two suspects arrested by the police confessed to their involvement in the assassination of Bhutto.

Abdul Najeed said the two suspects told the police about their conspiracy to kill Bhutto.

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Rafaqat and Hasnian Gul were arrested recently from different areas of Rawalpindi and they confessed to the involvement in killing Bhutto before judicial Magistrate Chaudhry Muhammad Taufiqin Rawalpindi.

According to their confession, a five-member squad were involved in the killing of Bhutto on Dec. 27 last year.

Bhutto was killed in gunshots and suicide bombing attacks on Dec. 27 last year after addressing an election rally in Rawalpindi.

Abdul Najeed said the five people had a meeting in North West Frontier Province, mulling a plan to kill Bhutto. They entered Rawalpindi on Dec. 26, one day before Bhutto was supposed to address an election rally.

Abdul Najeed said two suicide bombers tried to enter the Liaqat Bagh park where Bhutto would attend an election rally but they were stopped by security personnel. They decided that each one of them should wait at one gate of the two exits of the park.

The squad also had some people inside the park to inform the two suicide bombers about Bhutto's whereabouts. After Bhutto addressed the election rally, one bomber at one gate of the park got the information Bhutto was getting out of that gate. Then he launched the attack.

The suspects confessed that they belonged to an Islamic group who feared that Bhutto would crack down on them after coming into power.

Abdul Najeed said the investigation was still going on and more details about Bhutto's assassination would be made available in the future.



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