By Ashraf Mumtaz
LAHORE, Jan 28: A three-member PPP delegation which visited the United States to seek support for its demand that the government entrust the investigation of Ms Benazir Bhutto’s assassination to the United Nations returned home on Monday ostensibly with no sign that the Bush administration will put pressure on President Musharraf to accept the PPP’s point of view.
Party sources, however, said the visit helped the PPP to put across its point of view to important people, including Congressmen they met during their three-day stay.
The visit was “pretty successful in terms of Congressional support for a UN probe as well as for elections on time,” the sources said. Information secretary Sherry Rehman led the delegation.
“They haven’t given any indication that they will support the PPP’s point of view,” the sources told Dawn.
The government said that the Scotland Yard team was competent to investigate the matter. However, the PPP sources said that its terms of reference were limited to finding the cause of death and it could not identify the perpetrators and financiers of the crime. The sources said that it was premature to say whether the party would accept the findings of the Scotland Yard team.
Monday, January 28, 2008
British team to return next month
By Syed Irfan Raza
ISLAMABAD, Jan 27: The Scotland Yard team investigating the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto will be returning to the country some time next month and not on January 27 as announced by the government.
The reason behind the delay could not be ascertained and the British High Commission claimed that there was no schedule for the investigators’ return.
“The Scotland Yard team is not coming back in the next three days,” the high commission’s Press Secretary Aidan Liddle told Dawn.
When it was pointed out that Pakistan’s interior ministry had announced that the team would return on January 27, the official said: “There was no such schedule of their return.”
On the other hand caretaker Interior Minister Lt-Gen (retd) Hamid Nawaz said: “We were expecting the arrival of British investigators some time between January 26 and January 27, but we do not know the reason behind the delay.”
Asked whether the foreign investigators would submit their investigation report immediately after their return to the country or would do some more investigation, the minister said: “It would be up to them whether they submit the report at their return or take more time for this.”
Eight experts of the Scotland Yard have been probing the case and five forensic experts, after collecting evidences, had left the country in the second week of this month, while the other three flew back later.
The team arrived in Islamabad on January 4 and started the investigation on January 6.
The government had announced that in the light of the evidence gathered by the investigators and statements they had recorded, they would prepare a report in the UK determining the cause of death and present it to the government of Pakistan on their return.
However, analysts said the investigators had been facing difficulty due to lack of evidence. They said that police had not cordoned off the site of assassination, rather they had hosed it down the day Ms Bhutto had been murdered, erasing valuable evidences.
Another problem for the investigators was that a post-mortem of the body had not been conducted.
ISLAMABAD, Jan 27: The Scotland Yard team investigating the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto will be returning to the country some time next month and not on January 27 as announced by the government.
The reason behind the delay could not be ascertained and the British High Commission claimed that there was no schedule for the investigators’ return.
“The Scotland Yard team is not coming back in the next three days,” the high commission’s Press Secretary Aidan Liddle told Dawn.
When it was pointed out that Pakistan’s interior ministry had announced that the team would return on January 27, the official said: “There was no such schedule of their return.”
On the other hand caretaker Interior Minister Lt-Gen (retd) Hamid Nawaz said: “We were expecting the arrival of British investigators some time between January 26 and January 27, but we do not know the reason behind the delay.”
Asked whether the foreign investigators would submit their investigation report immediately after their return to the country or would do some more investigation, the minister said: “It would be up to them whether they submit the report at their return or take more time for this.”
Eight experts of the Scotland Yard have been probing the case and five forensic experts, after collecting evidences, had left the country in the second week of this month, while the other three flew back later.
The team arrived in Islamabad on January 4 and started the investigation on January 6.
The government had announced that in the light of the evidence gathered by the investigators and statements they had recorded, they would prepare a report in the UK determining the cause of death and present it to the government of Pakistan on their return.
However, analysts said the investigators had been facing difficulty due to lack of evidence. They said that police had not cordoned off the site of assassination, rather they had hosed it down the day Ms Bhutto had been murdered, erasing valuable evidences.
Another problem for the investigators was that a post-mortem of the body had not been conducted.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Scotland Yard team ‘free’ to conduct full probe
By Syed Irfan Raza and Mohammad Asghar
ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI, Jan 23: Despite limited evidences, short investigation time and a mandate to determine only the cause of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s death, given to the Scotland Yard team, the government is reported to be trying to put the responsibility of complete investigation of the case on the British team.
Now the government is giving an impression that the foreign experts who have retuned to the UK with whatever evidences were available can investigate the case from all angles to unveil the persons involved in Ms Bhutto’s murder. However, the earlier stance of the government was that the British experts could only determine the cause of her death.
“The Scotland Yard team which is coming back to Pakistan on Jan 27 will be free to investigate the case,” Interior Ministry spokesman Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema told Dawn on Wednesday.
However, according to the working arrangements agreed between Pakistan and the UK, the Scotland Yard team could assist local investigators in the case to ‘know the cause of her death’. The primacy and responsibility for the investigation remains with Pakistani authorities.
Now when the British experts have been asked to submit their report before forthcoming general elections, the interior ministry spokesman said: “The British investigators were not confined to only determine the cause of Ms Bhutto’s death and it depends on them to also investigate the case and unveil the persons involved in the assassination.”
However, analysts were of the view that due to lack of solid evidences the Scotland Yard team would come up with no conclusion as it would have to rely on what the local investigators would tell them.
They said the British investigators had been facing difficulty in probing the case due to lack of evidence. They said police had not cordoned off the place of assassination rather they had washed it on the day of Ms Bhutto’s murder, resulting in the loss of all available evidences there.
Another difficulty the foreign detectives have been facing is that post-mortem of Ms Bhutto had not been conducted. The government had made an offer to her family to exhume her body for autopsy but the family seems to be reluctant.
The interior ministry spokesman said in his weekly press briefing on Tuesday that the Scotland Yard team would be allowed to interrogate two arrested terrorists allegedly involved in Ms Bhutto’s murder.
But, on the other hand the government made its own credibility ‘quite controversial’ by categorically rejecting a demand of the deceased chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and after her death of other leaders of the party regarding nomination of four important persons in the former government in the assassination case.
Sources in the interior ministry said the government had given very ‘short’ time to the foreign experts to determine the cause of death or investigate the case because they had been asked to complete the probe before coming elections scheduled for February 18.
“Yes we have asked them to complete the investigation before holding of the elections,” caretaker Interior Minister Lt-Gen (retd) Hamid Nawaz has said. “It would be better for all if they complete the probe before the polls,” he added.
A total of eight experts of Scotland Yard have been probing the case and five forensic experts, after collecting evidences, had left Pakistan in the second week of this month while the other three flew back on Jan 16.
Four members of the Scotland Yard team will return to Pakistan on Jan 27.
The sources said the Scotland Yard team would interrogate 15-year-old Aitzaz Shah, one of the two suspects allegedly connected with the assassination plot. He is being kept in a high security lock-up and interrogated exclusively by CID officers.
The source said CID officials were likely to record statements of Rawalpindi police officers and scrutinise the security plan for Dec 27.
The Scotland Yard’s team had gone back to the UK, leaving behind two liaison officers in Islamabad. The four returning investigators are expected to bring back some vital piece of evidence.
The sources said that the British investigators would again recreate the crime scene outside the Liaquat Bagh to help in their investigations.
Aitzaz Shah and his militant ‘handler’ Sher Zaman were arrested from Dera Ismail Khan last week.
ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI, Jan 23: Despite limited evidences, short investigation time and a mandate to determine only the cause of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s death, given to the Scotland Yard team, the government is reported to be trying to put the responsibility of complete investigation of the case on the British team.
Now the government is giving an impression that the foreign experts who have retuned to the UK with whatever evidences were available can investigate the case from all angles to unveil the persons involved in Ms Bhutto’s murder. However, the earlier stance of the government was that the British experts could only determine the cause of her death.
“The Scotland Yard team which is coming back to Pakistan on Jan 27 will be free to investigate the case,” Interior Ministry spokesman Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema told Dawn on Wednesday.
However, according to the working arrangements agreed between Pakistan and the UK, the Scotland Yard team could assist local investigators in the case to ‘know the cause of her death’. The primacy and responsibility for the investigation remains with Pakistani authorities.
Now when the British experts have been asked to submit their report before forthcoming general elections, the interior ministry spokesman said: “The British investigators were not confined to only determine the cause of Ms Bhutto’s death and it depends on them to also investigate the case and unveil the persons involved in the assassination.”
However, analysts were of the view that due to lack of solid evidences the Scotland Yard team would come up with no conclusion as it would have to rely on what the local investigators would tell them.
They said the British investigators had been facing difficulty in probing the case due to lack of evidence. They said police had not cordoned off the place of assassination rather they had washed it on the day of Ms Bhutto’s murder, resulting in the loss of all available evidences there.
Another difficulty the foreign detectives have been facing is that post-mortem of Ms Bhutto had not been conducted. The government had made an offer to her family to exhume her body for autopsy but the family seems to be reluctant.
The interior ministry spokesman said in his weekly press briefing on Tuesday that the Scotland Yard team would be allowed to interrogate two arrested terrorists allegedly involved in Ms Bhutto’s murder.
But, on the other hand the government made its own credibility ‘quite controversial’ by categorically rejecting a demand of the deceased chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and after her death of other leaders of the party regarding nomination of four important persons in the former government in the assassination case.
Sources in the interior ministry said the government had given very ‘short’ time to the foreign experts to determine the cause of death or investigate the case because they had been asked to complete the probe before coming elections scheduled for February 18.
“Yes we have asked them to complete the investigation before holding of the elections,” caretaker Interior Minister Lt-Gen (retd) Hamid Nawaz has said. “It would be better for all if they complete the probe before the polls,” he added.
A total of eight experts of Scotland Yard have been probing the case and five forensic experts, after collecting evidences, had left Pakistan in the second week of this month while the other three flew back on Jan 16.
Four members of the Scotland Yard team will return to Pakistan on Jan 27.
The sources said the Scotland Yard team would interrogate 15-year-old Aitzaz Shah, one of the two suspects allegedly connected with the assassination plot. He is being kept in a high security lock-up and interrogated exclusively by CID officers.
The source said CID officials were likely to record statements of Rawalpindi police officers and scrutinise the security plan for Dec 27.
The Scotland Yard’s team had gone back to the UK, leaving behind two liaison officers in Islamabad. The four returning investigators are expected to bring back some vital piece of evidence.
The sources said that the British investigators would again recreate the crime scene outside the Liaquat Bagh to help in their investigations.
Aitzaz Shah and his militant ‘handler’ Sher Zaman were arrested from Dera Ismail Khan last week.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Scotland Yard to be allowed to quiz suspects: Cheema
By Syed Irfan Raza
ISLAMABAD, Jan 22: The Scotland Yard team investigating into the assassination of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto would be allowed to interrogate the suspected teenager and his partner allegedly involved in the assassination plot, Interior Ministry spokesman Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema said on Tuesday.
“If they (Scotland Yard team) require, the government would facilitate them to quiz Aitzaz Shah and Sher Zaman,” Mr Cheema said.
The British team has gone home, but is expected to return in a few days and present its final report.
He said that the findings of the team would be made public soon after the report was submitted to the government.
He said the 15-year-old Aitzaz Shah and his militant ‘handler’ had been arrested in Dera Ismail Khan last week and Shah had told interrogators he was next in line to kill former prime minister had the other assassins failed.
“We have arrested them and recovered some explosives, some vests used for suicide bombing and detonators from the possession of the suspects,” Mr Cheema said.
“The suspect has made some revelations with regard to the assassination of Ms Bhutto,” the spokesman said.
He said that the boy’s information had led investigators to arrest his accomplice Sher Zaman.
Responding to a question about any link between Baitullah Mehsud and the suspects, the official said that investigators had not released any such information in this regard.
Answering a question about the inclusion in the probe of the people mentioned in a letter written by Ms Bhutto to the president before her return to the country from exile, the spokesman said: “It is unacceptable because they had been nominated six months before her assassination.”
ISLAMABAD, Jan 22: The Scotland Yard team investigating into the assassination of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto would be allowed to interrogate the suspected teenager and his partner allegedly involved in the assassination plot, Interior Ministry spokesman Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema said on Tuesday.
“If they (Scotland Yard team) require, the government would facilitate them to quiz Aitzaz Shah and Sher Zaman,” Mr Cheema said.
The British team has gone home, but is expected to return in a few days and present its final report.
He said that the findings of the team would be made public soon after the report was submitted to the government.
He said the 15-year-old Aitzaz Shah and his militant ‘handler’ had been arrested in Dera Ismail Khan last week and Shah had told interrogators he was next in line to kill former prime minister had the other assassins failed.
“We have arrested them and recovered some explosives, some vests used for suicide bombing and detonators from the possession of the suspects,” Mr Cheema said.
“The suspect has made some revelations with regard to the assassination of Ms Bhutto,” the spokesman said.
He said that the boy’s information had led investigators to arrest his accomplice Sher Zaman.
Responding to a question about any link between Baitullah Mehsud and the suspects, the official said that investigators had not released any such information in this regard.
Answering a question about the inclusion in the probe of the people mentioned in a letter written by Ms Bhutto to the president before her return to the country from exile, the spokesman said: “It is unacceptable because they had been nominated six months before her assassination.”
Monday, January 21, 2008
Mumtaz questions CIA’s ‘findings’
LARKANA, Jan 21: The Sindh National Front chairman Mumtaz Ali Bhutto said on Monday that there was no concrete evidence in the ‘findings’ of the American CIA that Al Qaeda and Baintullah Mehsood were responsible for the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
Talking to visitors in his native village Mirpur Bhutto in the Larkana district, Mr Bhutto termed the accusations a part of ‘American war against Muslims’.
“Since, Benazir called herself as Bhutto even after marriage, her assassination is the murder of a member of the Bhutto family, therefore the Bhutto community would follow the entire process of probe and would not allow any other person to get any personal or political mileage from it,” he said.
“We would approach the rulers and demand to take us into confidence about the probe into assassination of Benazir Bhutto,” Mr Bhutto said.
Mumtaz Bhutto contended that Benazir Bhutto was trapped in such a situation that a number of notorious criminals had come very close to her. “Who developed such a situation and how? This is very important question,’’ he said.—PPI
Talking to visitors in his native village Mirpur Bhutto in the Larkana district, Mr Bhutto termed the accusations a part of ‘American war against Muslims’.
“Since, Benazir called herself as Bhutto even after marriage, her assassination is the murder of a member of the Bhutto family, therefore the Bhutto community would follow the entire process of probe and would not allow any other person to get any personal or political mileage from it,” he said.
“We would approach the rulers and demand to take us into confidence about the probe into assassination of Benazir Bhutto,” Mr Bhutto said.
Mumtaz Bhutto contended that Benazir Bhutto was trapped in such a situation that a number of notorious criminals had come very close to her. “Who developed such a situation and how? This is very important question,’’ he said.—PPI
Sunday, January 20, 2008
CIA has evidence of Al Qaeda hand: paper
By Our Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan 19: The CIA chief’s claim that Baitullah Mahsud directed the attack on former prime minister Benazir Bhutto is based on “powerful” evidence the agency has collected, two major US newspapers reported on Saturday.
The New York Times also reported that the Bush administration is currently considering proposals to step up covert actions against the Al Qaeda network in Pakistan’s tribal region.
The report identified Mahsud as “a militant tribal leader in hiding” and noted that he has ties to Al Qaeda as well.
“There are powerful reasons to believe that terror networks around Baitullah Mahsud were responsible,” an American intelligence official told NYT.
Speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter, the official said that “different pieces of information” had pointed toward Mahsud’s responsibility.
CIA Director Michael J. Hayden discussed the agency’s conclusion in an interview with The Washington Post published on Friday.
On Saturday, NYT did its own story on Mr Hayden’s claim, noting that independent security analysts believe the Al Qaeda network in Pakistan is increasingly made up of “home-grown militants” who have made destabilising the government a top priority.
The report also referred to recent media statements by American intelligence officials saying that Al Qaeda has steadily built a safe haven in the mountainous tribal region Pakistan, constructing a band of makeshift compounds where both Pakistani militants and foreign fighters conduct training and planning for terrorist attacks.
The newspaper pointed out that Al Qaeda’s presence in Pakistan’s tribal areas is causing “mounting frustration” among American intelligence and counterterrorism officials, many of whom believe that the United States should take more aggressive unilateral steps to dismantle terrorist networks in this region.
In a separate report, The Los Angeles Times also quoted senior CIA officials as telling its reporters in Washington that Baitullah Mahsud was behind the Bhutto assassination.
“There is certainly no reason to doubt that Mahsud was behind this,” one such official told the newspaper.
The report, however, noted that Mahsud has denied involvement in the attack on Bhutto on Dec 27 after a political rally in Rawalpindi.
The newspaper also quoted from an interview Ms Bhutto gave to Britain’s Guardian newspaper before her death, saying that though Mahsud had reportedly threatened to send suicide bombers against her if she came back to Pakistan, the real danger came from extremist elements within the government that were opposed to her return.
“I’m not worried about Mahsud, I’m worried about the threat within the government,” she said. “People like Mahsud are just pawns. It is the forces behind them that have presided over the rise of extremism and militancy in my country.”
WASHINGTON, Jan 19: The CIA chief’s claim that Baitullah Mahsud directed the attack on former prime minister Benazir Bhutto is based on “powerful” evidence the agency has collected, two major US newspapers reported on Saturday.
The New York Times also reported that the Bush administration is currently considering proposals to step up covert actions against the Al Qaeda network in Pakistan’s tribal region.
The report identified Mahsud as “a militant tribal leader in hiding” and noted that he has ties to Al Qaeda as well.
“There are powerful reasons to believe that terror networks around Baitullah Mahsud were responsible,” an American intelligence official told NYT.
Speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter, the official said that “different pieces of information” had pointed toward Mahsud’s responsibility.
CIA Director Michael J. Hayden discussed the agency’s conclusion in an interview with The Washington Post published on Friday.
On Saturday, NYT did its own story on Mr Hayden’s claim, noting that independent security analysts believe the Al Qaeda network in Pakistan is increasingly made up of “home-grown militants” who have made destabilising the government a top priority.
The report also referred to recent media statements by American intelligence officials saying that Al Qaeda has steadily built a safe haven in the mountainous tribal region Pakistan, constructing a band of makeshift compounds where both Pakistani militants and foreign fighters conduct training and planning for terrorist attacks.
The newspaper pointed out that Al Qaeda’s presence in Pakistan’s tribal areas is causing “mounting frustration” among American intelligence and counterterrorism officials, many of whom believe that the United States should take more aggressive unilateral steps to dismantle terrorist networks in this region.
In a separate report, The Los Angeles Times also quoted senior CIA officials as telling its reporters in Washington that Baitullah Mahsud was behind the Bhutto assassination.
“There is certainly no reason to doubt that Mahsud was behind this,” one such official told the newspaper.
The report, however, noted that Mahsud has denied involvement in the attack on Bhutto on Dec 27 after a political rally in Rawalpindi.
The newspaper also quoted from an interview Ms Bhutto gave to Britain’s Guardian newspaper before her death, saying that though Mahsud had reportedly threatened to send suicide bombers against her if she came back to Pakistan, the real danger came from extremist elements within the government that were opposed to her return.
“I’m not worried about Mahsud, I’m worried about the threat within the government,” she said. “People like Mahsud are just pawns. It is the forces behind them that have presided over the rise of extremism and militancy in my country.”
Boy, key suspect held in BB murder plot
By Irfan Mughal
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Jan 19: A teenaged boy arrested on Friday told investigators he was the next in line to kill former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had the Dec 27 attempt failed, a security official told Dawn on Saturday.
“He appears to be part of the group that had planned the assassination, but not directly involved in it,” the official said in Peshawar.
The 18-year-old Aitzaz Shah, a native of Battal, in Mansehra district, used to live and study in Karachi. Aitzaz, according to the security official, also told the interrogators that he had been recruited by a cleric in Karachi and was sent to South Waziristan to train as a suicide bomber.
He said that he had trained in Makeen, South Waziristan, and knew about the group that had planned the assassination.
Aitzaz, who was arrested along with another man identified as Sher Zaman, was said to be cooperating with his interrogators.
The official said that the real catch was Sher Zaman, who was Aitzaz’s handler. “He is the real catch.”
A police official said that Aitzaz had even identified as Bilal the man who had executed the plot and then blew himself up. Bilal was a member of the Al-Badar outfit. He claimed that he was the back-up for Bilal whose facilitator was Akram. Police are looking for Akram.
Police said that the two suspects were arrested while driving into the city in a car. On search, the police also recovered explosives. Police said that the teenager had been assigned by his handlers to target a Shia procession in the city that has seen spiral of sectarian violence in the past.
“The boy seems to be implicating militant commander, Baituallah Mehsud in Benazir’s assassination,” the official said.
He said the boy and his handler would be subjected to further interrogation to find more clues about Benazir’s murder and other terrorist acts in the country. “So far, what he has said is very sketchy but we would know more as we speak to him again,” he said.
Police refused to confirm and contradict Aitzaz’s statement and Interior Ministry’s spokesman, Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema told an international wire service he had no information to share.
But a spokesman for Mr. Mehsud denied Aitzaz had any link with his group. “We have denied our involvement in Benazir’s assassination before and are strongly denying this again. We are not involved in Benazir’s murder,” Maulvi Omar told Dawn in Tank near Dera Ismail Khan.
“Yesterday, the American CIA had made a similar claim and now the police claim seems to be a continuation of the same conspiracy,” he said.—Ismail Khan contributed to this story from Peshawar and Alamgir Bittani from Tank.
Aitzaz allegedly said the attackers in the team that killed Ms Bhutto were called Bilal and Ikramullah -- the same names mentioned in an alleged telephone conversation between Mehsud and another militant the day after her death, adds AFP.
The tape was released by the interior ministry.
Aitzaz’s whereabouts at the time of the attack were not immediately clear.
One security official said he was in Rawalpindi while another said he was in Waziristan.
“The suspect was not in Rawalpindi at the time of attack on Ms Bhutto. The boy told interrogators that he was in South Waziristan,” a top police official quoted him as telling the interrogators.
One of the officials said Aitzaz was arrested during a security check when he arrived in Dera Ismail Khan by taxi from North Waziristan.
He allegedly told officials that he came to collect a suicide jacket for an attack at the US consulate in Karachi but the programme was changed because of tight security for Ashura.
Instead he was ordered to launch an attack during an Ashura procession on Sunday, the officials said.
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Jan 19: A teenaged boy arrested on Friday told investigators he was the next in line to kill former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had the Dec 27 attempt failed, a security official told Dawn on Saturday.
“He appears to be part of the group that had planned the assassination, but not directly involved in it,” the official said in Peshawar.
The 18-year-old Aitzaz Shah, a native of Battal, in Mansehra district, used to live and study in Karachi. Aitzaz, according to the security official, also told the interrogators that he had been recruited by a cleric in Karachi and was sent to South Waziristan to train as a suicide bomber.
He said that he had trained in Makeen, South Waziristan, and knew about the group that had planned the assassination.
Aitzaz, who was arrested along with another man identified as Sher Zaman, was said to be cooperating with his interrogators.
The official said that the real catch was Sher Zaman, who was Aitzaz’s handler. “He is the real catch.”
A police official said that Aitzaz had even identified as Bilal the man who had executed the plot and then blew himself up. Bilal was a member of the Al-Badar outfit. He claimed that he was the back-up for Bilal whose facilitator was Akram. Police are looking for Akram.
Police said that the two suspects were arrested while driving into the city in a car. On search, the police also recovered explosives. Police said that the teenager had been assigned by his handlers to target a Shia procession in the city that has seen spiral of sectarian violence in the past.
“The boy seems to be implicating militant commander, Baituallah Mehsud in Benazir’s assassination,” the official said.
He said the boy and his handler would be subjected to further interrogation to find more clues about Benazir’s murder and other terrorist acts in the country. “So far, what he has said is very sketchy but we would know more as we speak to him again,” he said.
Police refused to confirm and contradict Aitzaz’s statement and Interior Ministry’s spokesman, Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema told an international wire service he had no information to share.
But a spokesman for Mr. Mehsud denied Aitzaz had any link with his group. “We have denied our involvement in Benazir’s assassination before and are strongly denying this again. We are not involved in Benazir’s murder,” Maulvi Omar told Dawn in Tank near Dera Ismail Khan.
“Yesterday, the American CIA had made a similar claim and now the police claim seems to be a continuation of the same conspiracy,” he said.—Ismail Khan contributed to this story from Peshawar and Alamgir Bittani from Tank.
Aitzaz allegedly said the attackers in the team that killed Ms Bhutto were called Bilal and Ikramullah -- the same names mentioned in an alleged telephone conversation between Mehsud and another militant the day after her death, adds AFP.
The tape was released by the interior ministry.
Aitzaz’s whereabouts at the time of the attack were not immediately clear.
One security official said he was in Rawalpindi while another said he was in Waziristan.
“The suspect was not in Rawalpindi at the time of attack on Ms Bhutto. The boy told interrogators that he was in South Waziristan,” a top police official quoted him as telling the interrogators.
One of the officials said Aitzaz was arrested during a security check when he arrived in Dera Ismail Khan by taxi from North Waziristan.
He allegedly told officials that he came to collect a suicide jacket for an attack at the US consulate in Karachi but the programme was changed because of tight security for Ashura.
Instead he was ordered to launch an attack during an Ashura procession on Sunday, the officials said.
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