ISLAMABAD: Two prosecution witnesses in Benazir Bhutto murder case testified before an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi on Saturday.

Magistrates Ahmed Masood Janjua and Taufiq Chaudhry testified that they had recorded the confessional statements of Rafaqat Hussain, Husnain Gul, Aitzaz Shah and Abdul Rashid for their alleged involvement in the murder case.

Magistrate Janjua informed the court that he had recorded the statement of Abdul Rashid who confessed to knowing and participating in the conspiracy to kill Ms Bhutto.

Magistrate Chaudhry added that in their confessional statements Hussain and Gul had confessed to abetting suicide attacker Bilal who blew himself up near the vehicle of Ms Bhutto. In the confessional statement, both the accused stated that they kept Bilal in a house near Liaquat Bagh where Ms Bhutto was assassinated on December 27, 2007.

Regarding the confessional statement of Aitzaz Shah, magistrate Chaudhry said the accused had admitted his involvement in the conspiracy to murder Ms Bhutto.

Shah, according to the statement, was ready for the suicide attack on Ms Bhutto but at the eleventh hour he was told that Bilal had been tasked with attacking the PPP leader.

So far, 19 prosecution witnesses have been examined in the case.

The court adjourned further proceedings till July 19 when four more prosecution witnesses will testify.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2014