Benazir murder: Plot hatched at terrorists’ hideout, says Malik

Malik terms The Express Tribune report about BB assassination plot being hatched at a brigadier's home "baseless".

KARACHI: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that the investigation report of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination has not been presented to anyone, not even President Asif Zardari. He also asked the media to avoid speculation on the issue until the report is presented to the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Speaking to journalists at the Karachi airport on Friday, Malik said Benazir’s murder plot was not hatched at house of any brigadier rather it was made at terrorists’ hideouts.

He asked the media to avoid speculation that creates a wrong impression. At present, there is complete harmony between civil and military leaderships, he added.

Malik said that according to investigation reports submitted to him so far, the plot wasn’t hatched at the
residence of any army brigadier. A news channel also quoted Malik as saying that the news report (published in The Express Tribune on December 31 under the headline: “BB assassination probe: ‘Murder plot hatched at brigadier’s home”) was incorrect and baseless.

However, presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar refused to confirm or deny the report. He said he would comment on the report after meeting with President Asif Zardari.

On the PPP’s strained relations with the MQM, the interior minister, who is also the government’s chief negotiator, said that the party’s reservations would be addressed. He added that ANP supremo Asfandyar Wali and MQM chief Altaf Hussain played their roles for maintaining peace in Karachi. The government is taking every step to ensure peace in the metropolis, he added.

We will have to work collectively to save the country from terrorism and instability. And we have to foil conspiracies to protect our next generation from terrorists, he added.

According to the Associated Press of Pakistan, a joint investigation team has been formed to look into the veracity of the news item carried in a section of the press regarding Benazir’s murder conspiracy. Malik has indicated that if needed, a judicial commission will also be appointed.

Rauf Klasra says he stands by his story.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2011.