KARACHI, Jan 7: The Pakis-tan People’s Party has reiterated its demand that a commission under the auspices of the United Nations investigate the “sponsors, financiers, perpetrators and organisers of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination”. Speaking at a news conference at Bilawal House here on Monday, PPP’s central Information Secretary Sherry Rehman said that the assassination was not only a conspiracy to divide Ms Bhutto’s party, but also aimed at balkanisation of the country and the region.

“Benazir Bhutto was the only leader who was a symbol of integrity of all the provinces and her elimination is part of the conspiracy of the forces which want balkanisation of the country”.

She claimed that the PPP leadership had foiled the conspiracy of the elements involved in the destabilisation of Pakistan.

“We want all the events since her return to Pakistan until the assassination investigated.”

She expressed concern over the manner in which the investigation was being conducted as most of the evidence had been wiped out.

Ms Rehman was critical of the statement of President Pervez Musharraf holding Ms Bhutto responsible for her own assassination. She said this could only be said by sadists whose dispensation did not provide her security to which she was entitled as a twice-elected prime minister.

Without raising fingers at anybody, she alleged that the government did not provide security to Ms Bhutto and thus failed in its responsibility.

With regard to the Dec 27 public meeting, she said the authorities had assured the party that before the rally everyone will be searched. “But I walked with over one hundred people and no one was screened.”

In reply to a question, she said the PPP “won’t shy away from talking to the Scotland Yard team but the fact that the scene of the crime was washed and cleaned in a couple of hours by the authorities has made the task of the police more difficult.”

In reply to another question, she said the PPP would not accept any attempt to further postpone the elections, declaring that if such a development took place, the PPP would go into “protest mode in consultation with other parties”. She alleged that attempts to create dissension within the party were being made by the “ruling clique”.