Scotland Yard to probe BB’s murder
Army, Rangers to be deployed in elections: President
By Saad Saud

ISLAMABAD—President Pervez Musharraf Wednesday said investigators from Scotland Yard would probe the murder of Ms. Benazir Bhutto, chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party, who was assassinated in a terrorist attack on Dec 27, in Rawalpindi.
President in an address to the nation, hours after the Election Commission of Pakistan announced a delay in the January 8 polls till, Feb 18, citing security and destruction of its record, said the British team could assist the local investigation agencies in carrying forward the probe to determine the perpetrators behind the crime.
“How was Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto martyred? and who did it? I too would like to go deep into the details and also would like the nation to know ... I consider it very important and essential,” the President said. He appealed to the national and foreign media not to compound the situation. He said several photo clips, technical details, eyewitness accounts and new evidence were coming in.
President Musharraf said there was a need for expert advice in this regard, and thanked British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for the assistance. He said the team will help the local investigators in the probe and help remove any misunderstandings and confusion in this regard. The Pakistan Peoples Party has been demanding investigation from foreign agencies to find those behind this terrorist attack.
President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday said the army and rangers would be deployed across the country to ensure the holding of free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections on February 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.
He said earlier he did not intend to deploy the army, but in the prevailing law and order situation it has become critical to deploy the army and rangers across the country during and beyond the upcoming general elections. President Musharraf said the deployment of army and rangers during and beyond the general elections was aimed at ensuring peaceful elections.
He said the government will not allow any agitation or disruption. “We will not allow any agitation or disturbance. If anyone has such intentions, the army, rangers and police will tackle them,” he added. The President appealed to the masses to help the government in maintaining law and order in the country and said it was time for political reconciliation and not confrontation.
He also urged political parties to understand the sensitivity of the situation and think for Pakistan while setting aside their political and personal differences. The President endorsed the election commission’s decision to postpone the election and said it was timely and appropriate, as in view of the situation after the killing of Benazir Bhutto the holding of election on January 8 was impossible.
“It was my sincere desire that the elections should have been held on January 8, but since there was disruption in the Election Commission’s work in Sindh it became impossible for them to hold the polls on time”, he said and added the EC’s decision to postpone the election was appropriate.