ISLAMABAD, Jan 4: President Pervez Musharraf directed caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro on Friday to speed up the pace of investigation into the assassination of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto.

According to sources, he expressed concern over what he called slow progress and asked the prime minister to extend full cooperation to the Scotland Yard to complete the investigation as early as possible.

The president was presiding over a meeting held to discuss measures taken to maintain peace during Muharram and general elections.

The prime minister, chief ministers, the chief of the army staff, interior minister, heads of security and intelligence agencies and senior officials attended the meeting.

President Musharraf asked the authorities concerned to exert efforts to improve the law and order situation.

He stressed the need for ensuring peace during Muharram and said that all possible efforts should be made to protect the life and property of the people.

The meeting was informed about deployment of army and paramilitary forces on internal security duty in aid of civilian authorities in various parts of the country.

The sources said that the president also asked the prime minister to complete the process of setting up a commission for investigating and evaluating the damage caused to public and private property during the recent unrest.

The prime minister told the meeting that a mechanism for assessing the damage was being put in place and the federal government was working in coordination with the provinces.