Karachi: Pakistan police today said they have not yet received a letter containing a death threat supposedly from a "friend of Al Qaeda" against former premier Benazir Bhutto.

Bhutto said late yesterday extremists were trying to derail Pakistan's return to democracy after her lawyer received the letter threatening to kill the ex-premier "anywhere we get the opportunity."

The letter, written in Urdu, was signed by the "head of the suicide bombers and a friend of Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden." Suicide bombers targeted Bhutto last week during her massive home coming procession on the streets of Karachi, in attacks that killed 139 people.

Karachi police chief Azhar Farooqi said Bhutto's aides had not yet passed on the letter, making it difficult for investigators probing the blasts to determine whether the threat was real.

"We have learnt through the media that they have received a threatening letter. It is information, not a piece of intelligence," he told AFP. "We will be in a position to pursue it once they share the information with us officially about the latest threat," he said.

He said no group had yet claimed responsibility for the October 18 attacks. Bhutto has vowed to stay in Pakistan to contest upcoming general elections scheduled for early January despite the carnage, and ongoing fears for her safety in light of threats from Islamic extremists. 

Source : PTI