Pakistan foils Zardari assassination plot

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183231.html

Pakistani security forces have arrested eight people on suspicion of plotting to assassinate President Asif Ali Zardari.

The arrests were made in Islamabad and Punjab province, Xinhua reported late on Saturday.

According to local media, the security forces initially became informed about the plan on May 21 through a wiretap.

They arrested four of the suspects in Islamabad and another four in different areas of Punjab province on Saturday. The detainees have reportedly been moved to an undisclosed location.

A senior officer of the Islamabad police department involved in the investigation of the case confirmed the report. The police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said two of the suspects are “key leaders” of Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan.

Reports say the suspects had planned to target Zardari during his visit to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.

Many of the president's meetings after the funeral service for his father, Hakim Ali Zardari, who died on May 24, were also cancelled due to security reasons.

The Taliban and al-Qaeda have vowed to avenge the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden through attacks on high-ranking government officials and military, police, and security forces in Pakistan.

Scores of people have been killed and dozens injured in attacks launched by the two groups in Pakistan since bin Laden's death.

A US attack in the city of Abbottabad allegedly killed bin Laden on May 2 (May 1 Washington time).