SSP testifies in Benazir Bhutto assassination case

Says SP Ashfaq Anwar, assigned to Bhutto’s security, was sent to Koral Chowk by Saud Aziz

RAWALPINDI: Prosecution witness SSP Tahir Ayub recorded his testimony in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case to an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday, bringing the number of prosecution witnesses who are yet to record statements to four.

The SSP told ATC judge Rai Muhammad Ayub Khan Marth that he was deputed with Nawaz Sharif, who was scheduled to address a PML-N rally at Sadiqabad chowk that day, December 27, 2007.

He said SP Ashfaq Anwar, who was deputed to provide security to Benazir Bhutto, was told by then Rawalpindi City Police Officer Saud Aziz to go to Koral Chowk, which fell in Islamabad and where PML-N and PML-Q supporters had clashed with one another. From Koral Chowk, Anwar was told to reach Sadiqabad, said SSP Ayub.

He further said that he was at Sadiqbabad with Nawaz Sharif when he knew that Bhutto had been injured in a suicide attack. Ayub said he also accompanied Sharif to Benazir Bhutto Hospital where Benazir was rushed to.

Ayub said two accused Aitzaz Shah and Abdul Rashid had confessed to their involvement in the attack while testifying before a magistrate. He said the police had evidence against the two accused.

He said SSP Imtiaz Ahmed, who was Bhutto’s security in-charge, recorded his statement before a joint investigation team of the police.

Ayub said others who were in Bhutt’s vehicle at the time — Ameen Faheem, Naheed Khan, Sadfar Abbasi, Khalid Shahenshah, Zardari House employee Abdul Razzaq Mirani and driver Javedur Rehman Khan — had not recorded their statements to the police team.

He said the police joint investigation team, which he was a part of, had taken guidance from the investigation report of the Scotland Yard but had not made it part of the challan they prepared.

Defence counsels Malik Rafiq, Malik Jawad Khalid and Naseer Tanoli also completed their cross-examination of the Ayub’s statement.

The court will now take up the case tomorrow (Wednesday). The ATC has also summoned SSP Waqar Chohan, another member of the police joint investigation team, for his testimony.

All accused including DIG Saud Aziz, SP Khurram Shahzad were present in the court on Monday. Former president Pervez Musharraf was represented by his counsel Safdar Javed Malik.

The prosecution is likely to present four more witnesses in the case, after which the court will record statements of the accused and hear final arguments.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th,  2016.