Islamabad: Slain former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto's widower Asif Ali Zardari will be given 'VVIP security' in view of threats to his life.

The interior ministry has decided to accord 'VVIP security' to Zardari, who was appointed co-chairman of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party following her assassination on December 27.

The ministry has directed authorities in all four provinces to provide VVIP security to Zardari during his movements. Police and paramilitary Pakistan Rangers personnel will be part of his security detail, Geo News channel quoted sources as saying.

Meanwhile, Bhutto's security advisor Rehman Malik, who came under a cloud due to apparent lapses in her security, will function in the same capacity for Zardari.

Malik, a former chief of the Federal Investigation Agency, has said he will liaise with the government for Zardari's protection.

"My assignment remains the same to act as a go-between in order to ensure security and protection of Zardari  that I used to carry out for Bhutto," Malik told The News.

Malik he was holding meetings with the PPP's youth wing to train activists so that four workers could be deployed at every polling station during the February 18 general election to avert rigging.

He said he had asked Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah to provide at least 50 police personnel and four mobile squads to protect Zardari. Malik said he had also sought sniffer dogs to detect explosive devices during Zardari's public addresses and a bulletproof screen for his public addresses.

Source : PTI