US backs Pak decision to seek external help in Bhutto murder probe
Washington, Jan 4 (UNI) The Bush Administration has extended ''full support'' to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's decision to ''seek outside technical assistance'' in the inquiry into former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination last week.
''It's a wise course that he (Mr Musharraf) has taken in the best interests of Pakistan and the Pakistani people,'' State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said yesterday here.
He, however, said, ''we'll see how that investigation plays out.
I'm not going to try to jump in and handicap what the results of the investigation may be. I think from our perspective, for our purposes, it's best to let the investigation unfold and see what it brings.'' Mr McCormack said, ''We all mourn the passing of Benazir Bhutto.
Now it's important to try to determine what happened so that chapter of Pakistan's history can be closed and that the Pakistani people can move to build on what had been some progress in terms of building momentum for political reform in Pakistan.'' He welcomed the scheduling of a firm date (February 18) for elections in Pakistan. ''It's terribly important in the current circumstances where you have so much political turbulence within the Pakistani political system,'' he said.
''What
the
Pakistani
Government
and
the
Pakistani
officials
need
to
do
now,''
he
pointed
out,
''is
to
make
best
use
of
that
time
between
now
and
February
18
to
make
sure
that
independent
media
is
able
to
operate,
to
make
sure
that
those
who
want
to
peacefully
participate
in
the
political
process
can
do
so,
that
any
restrictions
on
political
parties
are
lifted.''
UNI
XC
MP
BST0553