By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Jan 15: A new resolution introduced in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday commends Pakistans decision to involve the Scotland Yard in investigating the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto but does not support her party’s demand for a UN-led inquiry.
The full House of Representatives is expected to vote on the measure on Wednesday morning.
The mover, Congressman Gary Ackerman, chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. The panel has jurisdiction over US policy towards Pakistan as well as all other countries located in the two regions.
PPP supporters in Washington were lobbying for a harsher resolution and wanted it to support their demand for a UN-led probe into the murder.
Since Mr Ackerman is a leading critic of the Musharraf government, the resolution had alarmed the government’s supporters in Washington as they feared that it may seek new restrictions against Islamabad.
The US Congress already has two pending resolutions on Pakistan, both strongly supporting pro-democracy forces in the country. Both the resolutions seek punitive actions against the Musharraf government for suppressing political forces and placing new restrictions on the media and the judiciary.
But the resolution, released by Mr Ackerman’s office, seeks no such restrictions. It does condemn, “in the strongest terms”, the assassination of Ms Bhutto but takes on position on contentious issues like who killed her, who should conduct the inquiry and on whether the government failed to make adequate arrangements for her security.
It “welcomes the provision of assistance by the government of the United Kingdom of expertise to the government of Pakistan in the conduct of the investigation of the attack”.
The resolution “commends the government of Pakistan for accepting such assistance and urges that government to allow experts from the United Kingdom to participate in such investigation”.
Mr Ackerman, however, said that his resolution “formally expresses to the world, the outrage and dismay of the House regarding the cruel and cowardly assassination” of Ms Bhutto. “It also expresses our unwavering support -- in the wake of this brutal attack -- for Pakistan to be restored to a full democracy.”
The resolution reaffirms the US commitment to assisting the people of Pakistan in combating terrorism, and promoting a free and democratic Pakistan.
It also supports efforts by the government of Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice those responsible for the assassination and expresses condolences to the Bhutto family and the families of all those who were killed or injured in the attack.
In addition, the resolution urges the people and government of Pakistan to be relentless in their pursuit of a democratically-elected government, including the holding of free and fair elections at the earliest possible opportunity.
Further, the measure expresses support for the freedom of the media, the ability of political parties to express their views without restriction and the independence of the judiciary in Pakistan.
In the wake of Ms Bhutto’s assassination and the continuing unrest in Pakistan, Mr Ackerman has scheduled a Middle East and South Asia Subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, entitled “US-Pakistan Relations: Assassination, Instability and the Future of US Policy”.
The hearing will focus on Americas future relations with Pakistan in the wake of Ms Bhutto’s assassination and the prospects for a return to political stability. In addition, the hearing will examine US assistance to Pakistan.
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