KARACHI, Jan 7: Various civil society organizations on Monday demanded that investigations into the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto be carried out under the auspices of the United Nations.

Speaking at a press conference at the press club, the representatives of civil society organisations further demanded that strict action be taken against those seeking to divide the nation on the basis of race, ethnicity and nationalism.

They demanded that a high level inquiry be instituted to find out why personnel of law-enforcement agencies were absent when the miscreants were on a rampage after the assassination of Ms Bhutto. They added that those found responsible for their failure to protect public and private property be taken to task according to law.

Compensation should be provided for all the damaged properties and wages be given to the workers who could not go to their jobs because of the turmoil in the country. And heirs of the workers who were killed be given employment, they demanded.

They said that it was not the first time that violent protests had erupted, but owing to the absence of the personnel of law-enforcement agencies, which now unfortunately has become a matter of routine in such times, people had to face a dangerous situation.

They urged the election commission to take notice of the biased media campaign — aimed at spreading hatred among the provinces and among different ethnic and racial groups — launched by the PML-Q and demanded that the party be banned and cases of working against national security and the country be instituted against the party leaders.

They also said that politically cases against individuals should be withdrawn. Those who spoke at the press conference included Mohammad Ali Shah of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Uzma Noorani of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Mirza Maqsood of Mazdoor Mahaz-i-Amal.—Staff Reporter