Mehsud ordered Benazir’s assassination on behest of ex-Madrassa students: FIA report

LAHORE - Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has held the killed Taliban chieftain Baitullah Mehsud responsible for the assassination of former Prime Benazir Bhutto.

The FIA has submitted its final report over the gun and bomb attack on Bhutto on December 27, 2007 in Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh, according to which the assassination plot was planned by former students of Madrassa Darul-Uloom Haqqania.

The 39-page investigation report quoted one of the prime suspects, Hassnain Gull, as revealing that Bhutto was targeted for her stance on the Lal Masjid operation.

The report said that an ISI official also confirmed that he had recorded a telephonic conversation in which Mehsud himself is heard issuing instructions to some of the arrested terrorists to assassinate the PPP leader, The Daily Times reports.

It said that at least two suicide attackers were present outside the Liaquat Bagh to target Benazir.

While of the suicide attacker exploded himself adding to the panic created by the gun shots, another one escaped the crime scene.

Both the attackers were trained at a Taliban terror camp in Barond, South Waziristan, the FIA’s report said. (ANI)