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But Government Quietly Reaching Out For Advice, U.S. Officials Say

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 30, 2007

NEW YORK - Pakistani officials have quietly begun consulting with other nations about the conduct of their investigation into opposition leader Benazir Bhutto's killing, despite a public insistence that they need no foreign help, U.S. officials say.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is under pressure to respond to accusations from Bhutto's aides of a government cover-up, possibly through international assistance.

The officials said it was not entirely clear whether Pakistan was seeking international assistance in an investigation, or wanted backing from other countries as it conducts its own probe.

Pakistan has launched up to three separate "inquiries" into Bhutto's death and is waiting to see how those go before making any decision on whether to seek formal international assistance, a U.N. Security Council diplomatic official said.

A U.S. official, however, said the Pakistanis "don't want the U.N. involved in this."

"Of course the government would not be averse to using any kind of information or technical assistance which may lead to finding the perpetrators who have committed this heinous crime," said Jalil Shafqat, a spokesman for the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations.

Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said one of the investigations should be completed within seven days of a judge being appointed to oversee it.

"This is not an ordinary criminal matter in which we require assistance of the international community. I think we are capable of handling it," he said.

The Associated Press

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