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British detectives meet Pakistan police in Benazir's murder probe

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Jan 6, IRNA
Pakistan-Bhutto inquiry
British investigators on Sunday continued their probe into the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was killed last month in Rawalpindi.

Benazir was killed when an assassin fired three shots at her that was followed by a suicide bomb attack after she addressed a big public meeting on November 27.

The five-member team from Britain's Scotland Yard Friday flew arrived in Islamabad on Friday to assist Pakistani investigators in the probe.

President Pervez Musharraf says he is "not fully satisfied" with the investigations by the local investigators.

He had requested British Prime Minister to send Scotland Yard for help Pakistani officials.

The British team met Pakistani police officials who were on duty on the day Benazir was assassinated and also recorded their statements.

On Saturday, the British investigators visited Liaquat Bagh, the venue of Benazir Bhutto's public meeting and took snaps of the venue.

Pakistan says it will share with British police all the evidences of the incident.

British investigators will also visit the hospital in Rawalpindi where Benazir Bhutto was brought after the attack. They will meet the doctors who had treated the assassinated leader.

Official say that the interior ministry has asked the Special Investigation Group, the anti-terror wing of the Federal Investigation Agency which is part of the ongoing investigation, to extend assistance to the British team.

It was not immediately clear how long the team would remain in Pakistan but local media reported that they will stay unless they prepare a final report on their investigation.

There are reports that the 5-member team has also sought the help of more British investigators.

Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party insists for an investigation into her killing by the United Nations, saying the Scotland Yard team could be made part of such a probe.

Senator Babar Awan of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) says that if a case is registered on the basis of Benazir's emails to her friends then the PPP can accept probe by Scotland Yard.

The Pakistan government has already ruled out a probe by the UN on the lines of the world body's inquiry into the assassination of Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri, saying the circumstances in the two countries are different.

Musharraf told foreign journalist on Thursday that said he is "not fully satisfied" with the investigation so far. He also ruled out the ole of military and intelligence agencies in the killing.

Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party has dismissed the government's contention that she died of a skull fracture during the suicide attack as "lies" and her close aides have said she was shot in the head.

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