By NNN-APP
Washington : Expressing the Pakistani government’s strong condemnation of assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, ambassador to the United States Mahmud Ali Durrani said he was pretty sure that the attack against her was carried out by terrorists as he also stated that the Pakistanis want democracy to move forward.
“We are extremely sorry that Benazir Bhutto, one of our great political leaders, has been assassinated, and it happened immediately after she was addressing a public rally in Rawalpindi.
“This is a time of mourning for Pakistan, and I think the government of Pakistan has already announced three day of mourning.”
Speaking to reporters who flocked to the Pakistani embassy as the news on former prime minister’s assassination broke out, the envoy said there would absolutely be an investigation into the killing.
“We have no solid information but I’m almost 90 per cent sure that it is the extremists, terrorists, who have been hitting other innocent people, hit prime minister Bhutto too,” he stated, when asked about who were the likely people who perpetrated the attack.
Durrani said he spoke to President Musharraf this morning. “He (Musharraf) says we strongly condemn this terrorist act. This has been done by terrorists, and this should firm up Pakistan’s resolve to fight extremism and terrorism. And we will, God willing, keep democracy going in Pakistan.”
He said US President Bush will be calling President Musharraf shortly on the tragic event.
Questioned about the election process continuing in the country, he said “To the best of my knowledge, it will continue. This depends a lot on the opposition leadership in Pakistan.”
He said the government did its best to provide security to Benazir Bhutto.
“But this was a large, large rally. It was in a big— what we call Liaquat Bagh. It’s a big rallying area. There have been political rallies before. And I recollect many, many years back one of our political leaders was also assassinated here. She has addressed rallies.
This is a big place, and there are masses of people moving around. So in those circumstances, I think the world’s best security can have limitations.”
He said President Musharraf remains firmly committed to democracy.
“Absolutely, Pakistanis have hope for democracy because Musharraf is committed,” he said when asked about continuity of democratic process in the country.
“I think Pakistanis by and large want democracy and I think this will happen,” he added, while referring to President Musharraf’s recent steps towards full civilian democracy.
He said the overwhelming majority of Pakistanis are moderate and want democratic dispensation.
“Irrespective of the threat to their lives they are going to stick with democracy and I think in the long-run democracy will flourish in Pakistan.”
Asked about the legacy of prime minister Benazir Bhutto, he said, “I think her legacy, as I see it, it is a liberal democracy, a moderate Pakistan, a progressive Pakistan.”