ISLAMABAD, 3 January 2008 — Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf agreed yesterday to invite Britain’s Scotland Yard to participate in the probe of the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
He addressed the nation over state-run PTV and PBC hours after the Election Commission of Pakistan announced a delay in the Jan. 8 polls till Feb 18, citing security and destruction of its record.
He said the British team could assist the local investigation agencies in carrying forward the probe to determine the perpetrators behind the crime.
“We want to know what were the reasons that led to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. I too would like to look into it, as do the others,” he said.
He appealed to the national and foreign media not to compound the situation.
He said several photo clips, technical details, eyewitness account and new evidence were coming in.
There is a need for expert advice in this regard, he said and thanked British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for the assistance. He said the team would help local investigators in the probe and help remove any misunderstandings and confusion in this regard.
The Pakistan People’s Party has been demanding investigation from foreign agencies to find those behind this terrorist attack. Musharraf also announced setting up a commission to investigate and identify those responsible for incidents of arson and looting, causing huge loss, and vowed not to let anyone disrupt law and order in the country.
He said “unimaginable losses” have occurred, particularly in the Sindh province and machine-gun-totting gangs were harassing the common man.
“This cannot be tolerated and has to be dealt with strictly and stopped through an immediate action,” the president said.
He said the caretaker prime minister has been directed to set up a commission to identify the people so that they can be taken to task. The president urged the media to go and see the widespread destruction.
Musharraf said the army and the Rangers would be deployed across the country to ensure the holding of free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections on Feb. 18. “The deployment of army and rangers across the country has now become vital to ensure the holding of peaceful elections,” the president said in his address to nation.
Earlier in the day, Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Muhammad Farooq, a former judge, announced a 40-day delay in polls setting the fresh date of national and provincial assemblies elections for Feb. 18.
