Pakistan sets up investigation team to probe Benazir Bhutto's murder plot

Pakistani authorities today set up a joint investigation team to look into the veracity of a newspaper report that claimed the conspiracy behind the 2007 assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto was hatched at an army brigadier's house.

Announcing the setting up of the team, interior minister Rehman Malik said that, if needed, a judicial commission will also be appointed to probe the matter.

In its report, the Express Tribune newspaper said that a fresh investigation by the interior minister had uncovered nine persons, including the brigadier, who were allegedly involved in the assassination.

Earlier in the day, Malik had described the report as "totally concocted".

Malik clarified that while speaking to the reporter of the newspaper, he had refused to comment on the matter because it is sub-judice.

He said he also told the reporter that the findings of the investigation have not been made public as yet.

The future course of action will be considered only after the report of the investigation is presented to the central executive committee of the Pakistan People's Party, he said.

Bhutto was killed during a public meeting in Rawalpindi in December 2007. The slain chief of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Baitullah Mehsud was balmed for her assassination.