Approver police officer holds three responsible for Benazir’s murder

LAHORE - Superintendent of Police (SP) Ashfaq Anwar, who was assigned to provide box security to former premier Benazir Bhutto during her last rally, turned an approver in her assassination case and has held three officers responsible, a news channel reports.

According to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) sources, Anwar had recorded statements of Clause 164 a month ago in the court of Magistrate Farrukh Nadim Malik in Islamabad, the Daily Times reported.

Holding City Police Officer (CPO) Saood Aziz responsible for Benazir’s assassination, Anwar said although he had been deployed for her security, Saood had forcefully sent him to the Koraal Chowk, and then directed him to go to Nawaz Sharif’s rally in Sadiqabad.

He alleged that Senior Superintendent of Police (Operation) Yasin Farooq had deliberately avoided checking security, while Superintendent of Police Khurram Ishtiaq, on the directions of Saood, had ordered the Rescue 1122 team to hose the site of Benazir’s murder, the channel reports.

Anwar also claimed the Station House Officer (SHO) of Rawalpindi police station- Kashif Riaz- had refused to conduct a post mortem of the body. (ANI)