Violence paralyzes Pakistan

Violence paralyzes Pakistan
Militants deny role in Bhutto’s slaying.

Published Sunday, December 30, 2007

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan rejected foreign help in investigating the assassination of Benazir Bhutto yesterday, despite controversy over the circumstances of her death and three days of paralyzing turmoil.

The Islamic militant group blamed by officials for the attack that killed Bhutto denied any links to the killing yesterday, and Bhutto’s aides accused the government of a cover-up.

President Pervez Musharraf ordered his security chiefs to quell rioting by Bhutto’s grieving followers that has killed at least 44 people over three days and caused tens of millions of dollars in damage.

"Criminals should stop their despicable activities, otherwise they will have to face serious consequences," Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said.

Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party called a meeting today expected to choose a new leader, decide whether to participate in Jan. 8 parliamentary elections and hear her last will and testament.

If the party pulls out, it would destroy the credibility of the poll, already being boycotted by rival opposition leader Nawaz Sharif. The U.S. government has pressured Musharraf, who seized power in a coup eight years ago, to push ahead with the election to promote stability in this nuclear armed nation, a key ally against Islamic extremism.

The riots destroyed nine election offices - along with the voter rolls and ballot boxes inside, the election commission said. The commission has called an emergency meeting for tomorrow to decide how to proceed.

Questions about Bhutto’s assassination have intensified since she died Thursday evening when a suicide attacker shot at her and then blew himself up as she waved to supporters from the sunroof of her armored vehicle outside a campaign rally.

The disputes were sure to further enflame the violence and have led to calls for an international, independent investigation into the attack.

The government blamed the attack on Baitullah Mehsud, head of the Tehrik-i-Taliban, a newly formed coalition of Islamic militants along the Afghan border believed to be linked to al-Qaida and committed to waging holy war against the government. But a spokesman for Mehsud, Maulana Mohammed Umer, dismissed the allegations as "government propaganda."

Bhutto’s aides said they, too, doubted Mehsud was involved and accused the government of a cover-up.

After an October suicide attack targeted her in the city of Karachi, Bhutto accused elements in the ruling party of plotting to kill her. The government denied the claims, and Babar said Bhutto’s allegations were never investigated.

Authorities initially said Bhutto died from bullet wounds. A surgeon who treated her later said the impact from shrapnel on her skull killed her. But Cheema said Friday that Bhutto was killed when the shockwaves from the bomb smashed her head into the sunroof as she tried to duck back inside the vehicle.