RAWALPINDI, Dec 11: An anti-terrorism court has ordered the formal opening of investigations into the alleged involvement of two former police officers in the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

ATC-III Judge Rana Nisar Ahmed directed former Rawalpindi police chief Saud Aziz and Rawal Town SP Khurram Shahzad to appear before a joint investigation team of the FIA and get their statements recorded about the allegations against them.

The court, however, extended their interim bail till Dec 18, the next date of hearing. The two police officers denied that there was any breach of security on their part and said the crime scene had been washed after collecting items which could be helpful in investigations.

They said they were not the only people who could be held responsible for stopping the post-mortem of Ms Bhutto.

Saud Aziz argued before the court that no security was breached on Dec 27, 2007, and SP Ashfaq Anwar, who was responsible for escorting Benazir Bhutto, had been moved away without disturbing the security arrangements.

He said that police needed a permission from Ms Bhutto's legal heirs to carry out a post-mortem which was not granted.

The prosecution had requested the court to summon the two police officers after “it had been established from different statements by government officials that they had committed negligence in official duty”.

The court handed over the copies of the charge-sheet to the officers who, along with five other accused Sher Zaman, Aitzaz Shah, Abdul Rasheed, Hasnain Gul and Rafaqat Hussain, would be indicted at the next hearing.

The prosecution opposed an application filed by Dr Azra Fazal, a sister of President Asif Ali Zardari, about the legal custody of the vehicle used by Benazir Bhutto on the day of her assassination.

The prosecution said the vehicle (Land Cruiser) was an important piece of evidence and was a case property. It should not be legally handed over to any claimant till prosecution witnesses get their statements recorded.