RAWALPINDI, Feb 8: An anti-terrorism court here on Friday gave two suspects in Benazir Bhutto’s assassination plot into physical custody of police for 12 days after police sought their custody to extract more information.

ATC 1 Judge Chaudhry Habibur Rehman remanded Hasnain and Rafaqat in police custody after a superintendent of police sought their custody saying the joint investigation team was looking into the December 27 assassination of former Pakistan Peoples Party chairperson and wanted to obtain further information from the suspects. The suspects will again be produced in the court on February 20.

According to police the two men were arrested two days ago from Rawalpindi on the information of Aitzaz Shah and Sher Zaman who were arrested from Dera Ismail Khan some three weeks ago.

The arrested persons are said to be relatives of Aitzaz and Sher Zaman. The investigators have also claimed that the suspects have links with the tribal areas militants.

Both Hasnain and Rafaqat are to be probed in a case booked with City Police Station on December 27, 2007 under the charges of murder, attempted murder, terrorism, having and using banned explosive materials, causing mischief by fire and explosives to damage property and criminal conspiracy. The gun and bomb attack outside Liaqat Bagh Park killed Benazir along with 21 workers of the PPP.

Meanwhile a civil judge asked the Punjab and city district government Rawalpindi to submit their comments in writing in response to a suit filed by Pakistan People’s Party workers seeking a piece of land at Liaqat Bagh to build a monument in commemoration of slain Benazir and 21 other people.

Civil Judge Raja Khurram Ali Khan asked both provincial and district government to file their reply in response to a suit filed by Muhammad Ishfaq Chaudhry along with seven men that wanted a piece of land for the a monument.