RAWALPINDI: A key witness in Benazir Bhutto's murder case on Wednesday informed an anti-terrorism court that the site (along with vital evidence) was washed off immediately after the incident on orders from the then Superintendent Police of the area.

District Emergency Officer Dr Abdul Rehman appeared before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC-I) and repeated his earlier statement that washing of the murder site was performed after receiving order from SP Rawal Town Khurram Shahzad.

“The murder site of Benazir Bhutto was washed out under the order and direct supervision of Superintendent of Rawal Town Police Khurram Shahzad,” the officer said ratifying his earlier statement recorded under Section 164 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Special Judge of the ATC Chaudhry Habibur Rehman read out his statement containing seven pages and asked the witness to confirm his statement given before Magistrate Kamran Cheema, besides thumb impression and signature.

After hearing the statement, Dr Abdul Rehman endorsed its contents and said that he stood by his statement about hosing down the crime scene after receiving orders from SP Khurram Shahzad under his supervision.

The court adjourned the hearing till February 21 and summoned the prosecution witnesses, including Dr Abdul Rehman, Ghulam Muhammad Naz and Magistrate Ahmed Masood Janjua for cross-questioning.

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson and the former prime minister was assassinated in a public gathering in a park in Rawalpindi on Dec 27, 2007.

Earlier on Feb 13, the Lahore High Court had directed the ATC to complete the Benazir Bhutto murder case trial in three months.

The court issued the order on a petition filed by the FIA on Jan 5. The FIA had earlier filed three petitions for daily trial and the LHC had directed the ATC for expeditious disposal of the case.

The high-profile case has lingered on in courts for more than five years now. – APP/DawnNews