Pak releases Bhutto attack suspect

Pakistan has released a prominent al-Qaida militant who was involved in the bombing of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's homecoming rally in Karachi. More than 139 people were killed in the October 18 rally last year.

In her book, Reconciliation: Islam Democracy and West, Bhutto had accused Akhtar of plotting an attack against her. Qari Saifullah Akhtar, who was arrested from near Lahore on February 26, was released last week, officials said.

Head of outlawed Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami, the main Pakistan support group for Afghanistan's extremist Taliban movement, Akhtar is also linked to al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden. On March 26, Akhtar was freed by an anti-terrorism court in Karachi but arrested again minutes later. He was detained for 30 days. Akhtar had reportedly fought along with Mujahideens during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 80s and also trained jihadi fighters who were sent to Jammu & Kashmir in the 90s. In August 2004, Akhtar was arrested from UAE and handed over to Pakistani authorities. He was, however, released last year.