Developments in Pakistan
December 30, 2007 at 5:08AM
Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party called a meeting today to discuss whether to participate in the elections. Her widower, Asif Ali Zardari, told the British Broadcasting Corp. that their son would read a message left by Bhutto and addressed to the party in event of her death. Some speculated that it would include the name of who she wanted to lead her party in case of her death.
Two suspected suicide bombers died today when they prematurely detonated their bomb near the residence of a senior leader of the ruling party in eastern Pakistan, police said. The men were on a motorcycle and were not far away from the residence of Ijazul Haq, a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q party, in the city of Bahawalnagar when their bomb exploded, said Zafar Abbas Bukhari, the district police chief.
Pakistani officials have quietly begun consulting with other nations about their investigation into Bhutto's killing, despite public insistence that they need no foreign help, U.S. officials say. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is under pressure to respond to accusations from Bhutto's aides of a government coverup.
The country was racked by a third day of riots and looting that have killed nearly 50 people since Thursday. Much of the unrest has been concentrated in and around Karachi, the southern port city that was Bhutto's home base. Among the recent casualties was a young man shot to death in Karachi while wearing a tunic made from the flag of Bhutto's party.
Clashes also broke out Saturday in Rawalpindi, the city where Bhutto was killed. Paramilitary troops in the most volatile areas have been given permission to use deadly force.
Across Sindh Province roads were littered with burning vehicles. Business centers, gas stations and schools remained closed. Property damage was estimated in the tens of millions of dollars, the Interior Ministry said.
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 Monday to decide how to proceed.
NEWS SERVICES
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