RAWALPINDI: One of the main suspects in the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Khurram Shahzad Haider, has been appointed senior superintendent of police (SSP) of the Rawalpindi police’s Special Branch.

He assumed charge on Friday after the Punjab government’s police department issued a notification regarding the appointment. The post had been vacant for the last couple of months.

Mr Haider was the Rawal Division superintendent of police when Bhutto was assassinated in a shooting and bomb attack at a public meeting at Liaquat Bagh on Dec 27, 2007.

According to a 10-page security plan for Bhutto, released by the then city police officer (CPO), Saud Aziz, then SSP operations Yasin Farooq was assigned to overall supervision of security, while Mr Haider was deputed to supervise around Liaquat Bagh.

In addition to Mr Haider, former president Gen Pervez Musharraf and former CPO Saud Aziz were charged in the case.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2017