Islamabad :  The plot to assassinate former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was hatched at a terrorist hideout, Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malek has said, dismissing reports that the 2007 murder was planned at an army brigadier's home.

Malek asked the media to avoid speculation on the issue until the final report of the investigation was presented to the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), The Express Tribune reported on Sunday.

The remarks came a day after the daily said a fresh probe conducted under the interior ministry's supervision had unveiled the role of nine men, including the brigadier, in the killing of Benazir Bhutto.

The findings had been kept under wraps and the report is with Malek, the report said, adding the finding had only been seen by President Asif Ali Zardari, her husband.

Bhutto was assassinated in December 27, 2007 as she was leaving a ground in a motorcade after addressing an election rally in Rawalpindi, Islamabad's twin city and Pakistan's old capital.

CCTV footage

A teenaged shooter was seen aiming at her head in the CCTV footage before a powerful suicide blast killed at least 24 people at the rally.

The interior ministry at that time accused the Taliban of plotting to kill Bhutto while the doctors said "her head banged against the lever of the sunroof of her vehicle which caused her death".

Speaking to reporters in Karachi on Friday, Malek said the investigation report of the assassination had not been presented to anyone, not even to President Zardari.

But reports said that Zardari had at one time made up his mind to unveil the inquiry report on Bhutto's third death anniversary, but he changed his mind at the eleventh hour and told the interior minister to drop the idea for the time being.

Malek said that according to investigation reports submitted to him, the plot wasn't hatched at the residence of any brigadier.

A news channel also quoted Malek as saying that the report was incorrect.

Presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar refused to confirm or deny the report.

He said he would comment on the report after meeting with the president.