March 26, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 17, 1429

ISLAMABAD, March 25: Interior Ministry spokesman Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema said on Tuesday the new government could undertake a fresh investigation into the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto any time under the auspices of the United Nations.

“The preliminary investigation into Ms Bhutto’s case has been completed but it is the prerogative of the new government to start a fresh probe through UN experts,” he said at his weekly media briefing on law and order and security issues.

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani in his first speech in the National Assembly on Monday had announced that his government would go for an investigation into the assassination through the UN.

When asked about the security of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry who was freed on Monday on the directives of the new prime minister, Brig Cheema said he would be provided foolproof security during his planned visits to different cities.

He, however, said the interior ministry had so far not received details of Justice Chaudhry’s programme.

Talking about the law and order situation and terrorism, the spokesman said the interior ministry was waiting for the counter-terrorism policy of the new government.

He said the interior ministry would spell out its action plan for maintaining law and order and curbing the menace of terrorism under the policy guidelines of the prime minister.

The spokesman expressed satisfaction over the measures taken by law-enforcement agencies for important occasions like Eid Milad Nabi, Pakistan Day, Easter, Holi and the National Assembly session.

The administration and police successfully handled their tasks, ensuring a trouble-free environment for the historic transition.

Responding to a question about a plan made by the caretaker government to equip security forces with advanced gadgets, detectors and scanners to foil suicide attacks, he said the equipment would soon be procured from China for improving security arrangements at important places.

He said the regional meeting of the Saarc countries on counter-terrorism cooperation and a meeting of police chiefs scheduled from 25th to 27th of this month in Islamabad had to be rescheduled due to the hectic phase of transition.

This will now be held from April 15 to 17. The new dates have been set after consultations with the Saarc secretariat and the member states.

Replying to a question, he said progress had been made in investigations into the attack on FIA building in Lahore while investigations were continuing into the bombing of Italian restaurant in Islamabad.

About the Swat situation, he said three illegal FM radio stations had been seized during search and cordon operations last week.