Ex-Police Chief Indicted in Bhutto Assassination

Another cop, plus five Taliban militants also indicted
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 5, 2011 11:42 AM CDT
Ex-Police Chief Indicted in Bhutto Assassination
Benazir Bhutto in December 2007.   (Getty Images)

It looks more and more like Benazir Bhutto never had a chance that day. A Pakistani court today indicted two police officers in connection with her 2007 assassination in Rawalpindi, including the former police chief of the city. The pair, in charge of the former prime minister's security, had been previously arrested. "They have been charged with conspiracy as well as abetment in the murder," a government prosecutor tells Reuters.

The court indicted five other men, all of whom are believed to have been affiliated with Beitullah Mehsud, the Pakistani Taliban leader blamed by the government for the attack. (He was killed in a US drone strike in 2009.) Those five allegedly brought the suicide bomber to the city. The two officers are accused of "changing the security plan," though the details on that aren't spelled out. They also immediately hosed down the area after the attack, washing away evidence, notes CNN. Were they just following orders? An arrest warrant remains outstanding for ex-President Pervez Musharraf, who reportedly gave the orders for police to ease up on security. (More Benazir Bhutto stories.)

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