PPP disagrees with findings, insists on UN probe
This was stated by the party’s Information Secretary Sherry Rehman during an interview with private television channels and in response to Dawn’s questions about Scotland Yard’s report handed over to the authorities concerned and the PPP leadership on Friday. “We disagree with the finding on the cause of the death,” said Ms Rehman.
“Their terms of reference were limited,” she said, adding that Scotland Yard experts had been working under the Pakistani police. Their investigation was limited only to finding the cause of her death.
The party would give a detailed response after studying the report. “The report has just been handed to us and we will give our final reaction once the party has looked at all aspects and details of the report.”
According to sources, the report is being scrutinised by PPP’s legal experts to enable co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari to make a formal statement.“It is the government of Pakistan which has been muddying the waters into this investigation by giving multiple stories right after Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s tragic murder. The interior ministry started this process by saying she had been injured by the sunroof of her car, following which General Musharraf said that she had been killed by a bullet.”
Ms Rehman said: “We have provided our full cooperation to Scotland Yard and have always maintained that they are working with limitations on their terms of reference in Pakistan. Critical forensic evidence was destroyed by the government within hours of the event, and they were confined to working under the aegis of the Pakistani police.”
She said: “The PPP will continue its pursuit of an international investigation under the auspices of the United Nations as we are seeking more than the cause of the death itself. We are seeking a larger probe into the hidden hands that organised, financed, sponsored and perpetrated this event. The party might also seek the services of private international investigators to assist in the probe.”