"And now the focus has turned to why Benazir Bhutto was not provided adequate security."
"I disagree. I think now we are face to face with Pakistani officialdom at its worst."
"I don't understand."
"Pakistani officialdom that can actually come up with a theory that no one - but no one - finds even remotely believable..."
"You mean Pakistani officials are incompetent?"
"Well, I won't deny that but in this case I am suggesting that they came up with a theory that doesn't seem to fit eye-witness accounts and the doctor's initial statements."
"Which were?"
"That Ms Bhutto was killed by a bullet, not because she fell down and hit her head and then the shrapnel."
"You know why they are saying that?"
"I can guess...because that absolves the Pakistani officialdom of all responsibility and by pointing the finger at al Qaeda." "I agree but the facts are that the suicide bomber's actions were not typical. And by that I mean a suicide bomber does not carry a gun that automatically raises the probability of being detected. A suicide bomber straps only explosives on his body; but this particular suicide bomber first shot Benazir Bhutto and detonated the explosives strapped to his body only after security ran after him.
These are not theories but eye-witness accounts and reflect a behaviour that the world does not associate with a suicide bomber if you know what I mean." "I know precisely what you mean. But why would Pakistani officialdom go ahead with this theory that is so unbelievable and..."
"Because they have been instructed to do so, I would imagine."
"So we are in the middle of a crisis and the government wants to put the entire blame on al Qaeda and..."
"And while we all agree that it is difficult to provide security to someone in a rally we are also agreed that she was assassinated in a way that raises a lot of questions."
"What would you suggest?"
"An independent inquiry but in a country where the deaths of hundreds if not thousands have gone without any repercussions on Pakistani officialdom..."
"Who say they were only following orders."
"Right, one cannot expect an independent inquiry."
"True."