Pak Punjab Minister says Bhutto murder suspect no terrorist

LAHORE - Punjab Home Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that freed al-Qaeda suspect who has been linked to attacks on former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is not a terrorist.

Qari Saifullah Akhtar was released in December after reportedly being placed under house arrest four months earlier.

Sanaullah told reporters in Lahore that Akhtar had been quizzed about two attacks on the former prime minister.

But Punjab authorities released him for lack of evidence, said the minister.

It is not clear which agency detained Akhtar in August last year, or why. He has previously been detained a number of times and released. (ANI)