Benazir assassination: Formal probe against police officers begins

Ex-CPO Saud Aziz and SP Rawal Town Shahzad deny allegation.

RAWALPINDI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday asked on Saturday the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to initiate formal investigations against former City Police Officer (CPO) Saud Aziz and SP Rawal Town Khurrum Shahzad, besides extending their interim bail till December 18.

During the course of the hearing, the two police officials were also given copies of allegations levelled against them and others four suspects. However, both of them denied the veracity of allegations levelled.

The court directed them to appear before the court on December 18 when they would be formally charge-sheeted.

Earlier, Dr Azra Afzal, sister of President Asif Ali Zardari, filed an application for handing over Benazir Bhutto’s vehicle (BF-7772) and others used for her security. JIT officials informed the court that they could not be returned until a decision in the case because they were an important part of the evidence. They urged the court to dismiss the application.

However, the court ordered both sides to present further arguements on the next hearing, besides directing three prosecutions witnesses to appear before the court on the same date.

One of the key witnesses in the Benazir murder probe has claimed that the then city police officer (CPO) Saud Aziz had given him an ‘already prepared statement’ about the incident. The then assistant superintendent of police Civil Lines, Ashfaq Anwar made these claims before a court.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2010.