Khurram Shahzad, the former Superintendent of Police (SP)-Rawal, who is one of those accused in the Benazir Bhutto murder case was reinstated Monday night as the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Special Branch. According to a report, Shahzad took over the office duties after his reinstatement last night, in accordance with the notification circulated earlier. The Anti-Terrorism Court on August 31, 2017, had sentenced Shahzad as well as Saud Aziz, the former City Police Officer (CPO)-Rawalpindi to 17 years in jail in addition to a payment of fines.
Following the ruling, Shahzad was detained in Adiala Jail and Aziz was arrested as well. However, the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) subsequently suspended the sentence and issued a notification announcing the reinstatement of Shahzad as SSP Special Branch. It is to be noted that Shahzad was stationed as SSP Special Branch at the same time as he was sentenced, while Aziz, at present, has retired from the police force.
Shahzad and Aziz were released on bail on the orders of the LHC's Rawalpindi Bench on October 6, following the suspension of their 17-year jail sentences and fines a day prior. According to jail sources, the LHC's division bench granted bail to the convicted policemen on surety bonds worth Rs 2 million each.