Taseer's assassination probe: Two police officials suspended

SP headquarter Rawalpindi asked to give detailed explanation for ignoring letter indicating threat to governor.

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: The Superintendent Police (SP) headquarter Rawalpindi on Friday was asked to give a detailed explanation for ignoring a letter indicative of a potent threat to Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer as two other police officials were suspended during probes in the late governor’s assassination.

A letter had reportedly been sent to the Rawalpindi police from Lahore indicating that the murderer Mumtaz Qadri did not have the security clearance for VIP security. The letter, officials say, did not reach the concerned authorities in time.

Resident Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi Mukhtar Gondal has suspended Inspector Khalid Satti and Sub-inspector Ajaib of the security branch. The SP headquarter has also been ordered to give explanation in this regard.

A three member inquiry team constituted by the Punjab government also arrived in Islamabad to conduct its probe into Salmaan Taseer's assassination.

The team will record the statements of Taseer's assassin Mumtaz Qadri and other officials of his security convoy. Police officials who recommended Qadri's inclusion in Taseer's security convoy will also be questioned. The team will visit the murder spot at Kohsar Market in Sector F-63.

Meanwhile, the medical board conducting Qadri's check-up has found no marks of torture on his body. The board has handed its report to the police and the district administration.

A psychological checkup by a five-member team of doctors headed by Dr Tanvir Khaliq was also carried out at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) in Islamabad on Thursday. The doctors declared Qadri mentally fit.

The medical board is expected to re-examine Qadri again in five days.