Benazir assassination: Pak to take action against Musharraf

The Pakistan government will take action against Pervez Musharraf after concrete evidence is obtained against him, after a United Nations panel blamed the former military dictator for failing to provide effective security to slain ex-premier Benazir Bhutto. 

"We welcome the UN (commission's) report because it is independent and transparent. The people already knew what the commission has pointed out," said Interior Minister Rehman Malik.

"It is the people's wish that the killers of (Bhutto) should be arrested. This is also our endeavour and it will be done," he said.

The independent UN commission that probed the facts and circumstances of Bhutto's assassination has indicted the Musharraf regime for failing to provide effective security to her despite numerous threats to her life. It also found several faults with the probe by Pakistani authorities into Bhutto's assassination in a gun-and-suicide attack on December 27, 2007.

Malik said a Pakistani investigation team would further probe Bhutto's assassination in the light of the UN commission's report. The panel clearly mentioned in its report that Musharraf's government and security institutions were unsuccessful in providing security to Bhutto, he said.

The minister said action will be taken against Musharraf after concrete evidence is obtained about the UN panel's findings. Malik also blamed the former government of Punjab province for failing to provide adequate security to Bhutto.

Blaming the Pakistan People's Party for not providing security to Bhutto is irrelevant because it is the responsibility of the government and not party workers, he contended.

The UN panel's report accused intelligence agencies and some officials of hampering its investigation into Bhutto's assassination. It also raised questions about Malik's role in providing security to Bhutto.

Meanwhile, a media report quoted sources in the PPP as saying that an FIR would be registered by the party against Musharraf, seven civil and police officials who have been removed from their posts and some party leaders who were held responsible for Bhutto's security.