Britain has sent Scotland Yard detectives to Pakistan to aid with the investigation into Bhutto's assassination.
Musharraf has called for help from Britain - Pakistan's Mother Country and which therefore has close links with Pakistan - and the UN, and has welcomed the help from Scotland Yard.
In 2007, Pakistan was booted out of the Commonwealth for the second time in 8 years and will not be re-admitted until full democracy is restored....
Scotland Yard to aid Benazir Bhutto inquiry
By Isambard Wilkinson and John Steele
03/01/2008
The Telegraph
Scotland Yard, or New Scotland Yard, is based in London
Scotland Yard detectives are to fly to Pakistan to assist with the investigation into Benazir Bhutto's assassination.
Mr Farooq announced the general elections would be delayed 'in light of new circumstances'
President Pervez Musharraf has said that British detectives would "immediately" help Pakistani investigators as he sought to resolve doubts surrounding the circumstances of the opposition leader's death in his first address to the nation since she was killed.
Mr Musharraf spoke shortly after Pakistan's election commission announced that the general election, which was due to take place next week, would be held on Feb 18 after damage caused to election offices during the rioting that followed Miss Bhutto's death.
Opposition leaders condemned the postponement but said that they would still contest the vote, seen as a key step in Pakistan's transition to democracy after years of military rule.
Asif Ali Zardari, Miss Bhutto's widower and now the co-chairman of her Pakistan People's Party, said: "We have decided to take part in the election. People should be peaceful and express their anger through their ballots."
Mr Musharraf's announcement was aimed at defusing mounting public anger over the official explanation that Miss Bhutto had died by hitting her head on a car sunroof during a gun and suicide attack at a campaign rally last week.
Critics allege that Pakistani intelligence officers were involved. But Mr Musharraf said yesterday that the assassination was carried out by "terrorists" linked to al-Qa'eda.
David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, confirmed that a team of officers would leave for Pakistan by the end of the week. "The UK believes that free and fair elections are vital for the future of Pakistan," he said.
Asif Ali Zardari: 'People should be peaceful and express their anger through their ballots'
"As the terrible events of last week show only too clearly, Pakistan faces a very serious threat from extremism. The UK is already closely engaged with the government of Pakistan on counter-terrorism co-operation".
Scotland Yard sources stressed that only a "handful" of detectives - some with expertise in forensic analysis and the management of scenes of crime - would go to Pakistan.
Mr Musharraf said the team would "help to cover our deficiencies in the field of forensics".
"I am sure this investigation with Scotland Yard will be correct and will remove all the doubts surrounding it," he added.
Previous international investigations of crimes in Pakistan have been hampered by a lack of access to evidence and information. The interior ministry said last week that Pakistan did not require foreign help, saying that the international community "does not understand the environment" in the country.
The White House said Scotland Yard's involvement negated the need for a United Nations inquiry.
telegraph.co.uk
Musharraf has called for help from Britain - Pakistan's Mother Country and which therefore has close links with Pakistan - and the UN, and has welcomed the help from Scotland Yard.
In 2007, Pakistan was booted out of the Commonwealth for the second time in 8 years and will not be re-admitted until full democracy is restored....
Scotland Yard to aid Benazir Bhutto inquiry
By Isambard Wilkinson and John Steele
03/01/2008
The Telegraph
Scotland Yard, or New Scotland Yard, is based in London
Scotland Yard detectives are to fly to Pakistan to assist with the investigation into Benazir Bhutto's assassination.
Mr Farooq announced the general elections would be delayed 'in light of new circumstances'
President Pervez Musharraf has said that British detectives would "immediately" help Pakistani investigators as he sought to resolve doubts surrounding the circumstances of the opposition leader's death in his first address to the nation since she was killed.
Mr Musharraf spoke shortly after Pakistan's election commission announced that the general election, which was due to take place next week, would be held on Feb 18 after damage caused to election offices during the rioting that followed Miss Bhutto's death.
Opposition leaders condemned the postponement but said that they would still contest the vote, seen as a key step in Pakistan's transition to democracy after years of military rule.
Asif Ali Zardari, Miss Bhutto's widower and now the co-chairman of her Pakistan People's Party, said: "We have decided to take part in the election. People should be peaceful and express their anger through their ballots."
Mr Musharraf's announcement was aimed at defusing mounting public anger over the official explanation that Miss Bhutto had died by hitting her head on a car sunroof during a gun and suicide attack at a campaign rally last week.
Critics allege that Pakistani intelligence officers were involved. But Mr Musharraf said yesterday that the assassination was carried out by "terrorists" linked to al-Qa'eda.
David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, confirmed that a team of officers would leave for Pakistan by the end of the week. "The UK believes that free and fair elections are vital for the future of Pakistan," he said.
Asif Ali Zardari: 'People should be peaceful and express their anger through their ballots'
"As the terrible events of last week show only too clearly, Pakistan faces a very serious threat from extremism. The UK is already closely engaged with the government of Pakistan on counter-terrorism co-operation".
Scotland Yard sources stressed that only a "handful" of detectives - some with expertise in forensic analysis and the management of scenes of crime - would go to Pakistan.
Mr Musharraf said the team would "help to cover our deficiencies in the field of forensics".
"I am sure this investigation with Scotland Yard will be correct and will remove all the doubts surrounding it," he added.
Previous international investigations of crimes in Pakistan have been hampered by a lack of access to evidence and information. The interior ministry said last week that Pakistan did not require foreign help, saying that the international community "does not understand the environment" in the country.
The White House said Scotland Yard's involvement negated the need for a United Nations inquiry.
telegraph.co.uk
