Benazir assassination: JIT planning to bring Musharraf, others into probe net

The recently expanded Joint Investigation Team (JIT) of Federal Intelligence Agency (FIA) has plans to bring former President Pervez Musharraf, former Federal Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz, former Secretary Interior Kamal Shah and former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Aijaz Shah into investigation net in Benazir Bhutto assassination case.
The entry of these four would lead the probe to its logical end, sources in FIA revealed to this scribe on Monday. Subsequent to the detention of two police officials, Saud Aziz former CPO and Khurram Shahzad, former SP, the investigation has taken a new turn and new names have come to light, sources revealed.
The detained police officers have given some names of intelligence officials and the JIT has sent a request to General Headquarters requesting permission to question these officers. The assassination of Benazir Bhutto at Liaqat Bagh was a security lapse, if not a conspiracy, sources said, adding that if it was security lapse then those responsible to provide Benazir Bhutto security must be questioned. Senior PPP leader Naheed Khan and her spouse Safder Abbasi are also being investigated as they were in the same vehicle as the slain PPP leader at the time of her assassination.
The sources decline to respond to a question regarding the inclusion of Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Law Minister Babar Awan in the investigation. A questionnaire has reportedly already been sent to former President Musharraf, while other people will be sent notices shortly so that they can pass the litmus test of investigation.
The two detained police officers Saud Aziz and Khurram Shahzad have filed a bail application in the Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) pleading that they are not guilty nor has any charge been filed in the challan presented by FIA in the court. The counsel of the detained police officers Waheed Anjum during their argument on bail applications pleaded that the two men are innocent and are being victimised. The Joint Interrogation Team of FIA has found no direct evidence regarding the involvement of these two officers in the assassination plot.
Saud Aziz and Khurram Shahzad are on a 14-day judicial remand till January 12, after the FIA's request for an extension in the physical remand was rejected by the ATC Judge Rana Nisar on December 29. After endorsing the bail application of the two police officers the judge of the ATC issued notices to FIA and federal government and directed the FIA to present the detained officers before the court on January 7, when the bail application will also be heard.