PPP rejects Scotland Yard probe, demands UN investigation

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), while rejecting investigation into Benazir Bhutto's assassination by Scotland Yard, as announced by President Musharraf, has demanded the probe should be carried out by a United Nations (UN) team.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, PPP Secretary Finance, Senator Babar Awan said that investigation conducted by any team other than UN would not be accepted by PPP and it would approach UN.
Strongly reacting to the statement of foreign office spokesman that Benazir's assassination could not be compare with the slain Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's case, he termed the statement as interference in the affairs of interior ministry. Senator Babar questioned that how Benazir's assassination could be termed less tragic than the Hariri's killing.
"In fact Bhutto family has a record of holding the office of premier ship five times-once by Shah Nawaz Bhutto and twice each by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and his daughter Benazir Bhutto," he noted.
PPP leader strongly condemned the postponement of elections, saying that as a former Judge of apex court the Chief Election Commissioner has violated the Constitution's Article 224, which reads that elections could not be postponed except in few constituencies if there was a law and order situation.
He claimed that the government had planned to delay the election even before the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and only announced the deferment on Wednesday. Babar Awan accused the government of making outmost efforts to save the assassin of Benazir Bhutto, adding that media exposed the 'whole plan'.
He said the PPP would participate in the elections despite the 'planned assassination' of its chairperson and appealed to the entire nation to support the party to save federation, democracy and for restoration of rule of law in the country.
Babar said that the government had registered 4500 fake FIRs against more than two .2 million PPP workers and leaders across the country, particularly in Sindh, on the behest of, what he called, 'Orphan League'. 'Majority of nominees are candidates of National and Provincial assemblies as well as party's office bearers', he added.
He termed the registration of FIRs against such a big number of PPP workers and leaders an attempt to compel the party to go for a boycott for securing 'open field for Q-League'. "But, the PPP neither leave the field open nor let any party to run away from the elections', he vowed. To question, he rejected the media reports that Makhdoom Amin Fahim had held a meeting with President Musharraf.