News
Friday, April 23, 2010
90% of Benazir’s murder suspects arrested: Zardari* President says action against those accused of washing crime scene underway
* Unveils string of projects for South PunjabDaily Times Monitor
LAHORE: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that “a special group” is investigating the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, and about “90 percent” of those accused have been arrested, while action continues against those who washed the crime scene at Liaquat Bagh, a private TV channel reported on Thursday.
The president was addressing senior journalists and columnists from Bahawalpur and Multan – who called on him in Ashrafabad.
Zardari said the decision to approach the UN for an investigation into the assassination of Benazir was not made by him: “the Senate, the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies decided to approach the world body for an impartial probe”. The president said his government had empowered parliament. He said the demand for a new province of Bahawalpur needed to be taken up by parliament in line with the constitution.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of ‘Benazir Smart Card’ in Bahawalpur, Zardari said the Pakistan People’s Party-led government had proven critics wrong by transferring presidential powers. “We want to rule the hearts of the people,” he said. “I did not hold on to the presidential powers and transferred them.”
He said Bahawalpur was “neglected for 60 years ... no projects were launched here, but the prime minister is now from the south, and the government is launching a number of development schemes in the area”. He said projects would be undertaken in Bahawalpur from a federally-funded special package of Rs 10 billion. Zardari also announced scholarships, including 100 for Islamia University and 500 for students of information technology. He said water issues in Bahawalpur would be resolved, as a lack of rains added to economic difficulties.
Addressing a convention of representatives, office-bearers and the leadership of the People’s Youth Organisation (PYO), the People’s Students Federation (PSF) and the People’s Labour Bureau (PLB) from Multan, Bahawalpur and DG Khan in Ashrafabad, the president reiterated his government’s resolve to address the problems facing the common man. He said the current government was developing a new relationship with the world, including the US, China and Europe. Zardari also unveiled a string of development projects for South Punjab.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk