Scotland Yard probe report to be made public: Cheema

The Scotland Yard team would be allowed to investigate the suspected teenager and his partner allegedly involved in assassination of Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto, Interior Ministry spokesman Brig. (R) Javed Iqbal Cheema said here Tuesday.”If they (Scotland Yard team) require, the government would facilitate them to quiz the teenager (Aitzaz Shah) and his partner (Sher Zaman),” Cheema said. He told weekly media briefing that Aitzaz Shah was arrested from Dera Ismail Khan alongwith his handler Sher Zaman last Friday. During initial investigation Aitzaz Shah revealed that he had been the part of a team involved in the murder of Benazir Bhutto. “However, we cannot only rely on his (Aitzaz Shah) statement until and unless the government finds some solid evidence.” Cheema said both the alleged culprits had been handed over to the Punjab Police for further interrogation.

He assured that the findings of the Scotland Yard team on the assassination of Benazir Bhutto will be made public as soon as they submit it to the government within next few days. Referring to security arrangements during general elections, he said the deployment of police and law enforcement agencies personnel made during Muharram would continue till after the election. He said that all security measures have further been beefed up for peaceful conduct of general elections on February 18 adding that no effort would be spared to maintain law and order before, during and after the elections.

Cheema said the government would provide maximum security to the political leadership who had been receiving life threats, the ministry had already asked the provinces to ensure the security of such politicians.

Hailing the performance of police security forces and intelligence agencies, during Muharram, he said that law enforcement agencies have arrested a number of terrorists alongwith a huge explosives and weapons from different cities.

The law enforcement agencies have arrested five terrorists from Karachi, three from Hyderabad and two from Dera Ismail Khan, he maintained.

The spokesman said that the control room of Interior Ministry worked round the clock during Muharram to ensure the peace and order across the country.

Cheema said that the law enforcement agencies have also arrested some terrorists from Swat alongwith explosives, suicide jackets and FM Radio equipment.

To a question he reiterated that the deposed judges are free to move to their native towns and ruled out the notion that they were under house arrest.