LAHORE/ISLAMABAD, Dec 31: The Punjab government on Monday announced a reward of Rs5 million for a person providing information about the identity of the culprits who killed PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto.

Addressing a news conference, caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Ijaz Nisar said that the government would protect the name of the people providing such information and requested the people to come forward and help the government identify the person who fired the shots and the suicide bomber.

The chief minister said that security of PML-N chief Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif was being beefed up to his satisfaction.

Chief Secretary Suleman Siddique said that a bullet-proof vehicle would be provided to Mr Sharif. A superintendent of police would accompany him during public rallies and district coordination officers concerned would be responsible for security arrangements at the venues of rallies, he added.

Talking about a judicial inquiry into Ms Bhutto’s assassination, he said the chief justice of the LHC had retired on Monday and the new chief justice would take over on Tuesday. Hopefully, he said, the new CJ would appoint a judge for the inquiry.

Meanwhile, the interior ministry has requested the public to provide any evidence which could help the investigation into the assassination of Ms Bhutto. The investigation team may be contacted at the following telephone numbers: 051-5486586 and 051-5488455.