KARACHI, Jan 2: The All-parties Conference (APC) held here on Wednesday under the auspices of the Jamaat-i-Islami had demanded investigation into the assassination of former prime minister Ms Benazir Bhutto by a UN agency. It also called for a thorough investigation into the firing and blast that left Ms Bhutto and scores of her supporters dead and injured at the Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi on Dec 27.

The APC demanded immediate arrest of all those involved in the attack, assessment of material loss caused to private and public property in the violence and looting that erupted after the tragic incident and continued for several days and early disbursement of compensation to all the individuals and concerns who suffered losses in the violence.

Presided over by the JI Naib Amir, Prof Ghafoor Ahmad, the APC was attended by representatives of the JUI, TIP, JUP, PDP, SNP, NWP, LPP, NPP and several other opposition parties and groups. They asked the rulers for effective and immediate measures towards the restoration of peace and confidence by eliminating the atmosphere of insecurity and uncertainty.

“Those involved in causing damage to public and private property be traced out and arrested,” the participants demanded in a resolution adopted at the APC.

Holding Pervez Musharraf responsible for the deteriorating law and order, the conference asked him to step down immediately and hand over powers to an consensus caretaker government. It also called for the constitution of an independent election commission acceptable to all stakeholders in the general election.

The APC also held the Sindh government responsible for the loot and plunder let loose in the province following the tragic incident, and called for a thorough investigation to fix responsibility of the security lapse. The inefficient governor be removed and actions be initiated against the irresponsible officers in the Rangers and other law-enforcement agencies for their utter failure in preventing the widespread violence and arson, it said.

The APC further demanded reinstatement of all judges who had declined to take a fresh oath under the Nov 3 PCO.

The resolution stated: “Pakistan which was created as an embodiment of the aspirations of world of Islam, Muslims of the subcontinent in particular, but unfortunately the inherited civil and military rulers, instead enforcing the Nizam-i-Mustafa, continued to be governed by the imperialist laws and their followers, who have turned the country into a an American colony.

“Pervez Musharraf, for the sake of powers, has put the solidarity and sovereignty of the country at stake. North Waziristan, Wana, Swat, Balochistan, Shangla and other parts of the country have been turned into a war front.

“His internal and external policies have resulted in suicide attacks in which an enormous number of innocent citizens have lost their live. PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto and many political leaders and activists have been killed in the target killing that has started now.

“Ms Bhutto was a symbol of federation and her assassination, along with the contradictory statements of the government regarding the cause of her death, hints that the killers might have patronage of the government.

“Benazir Bhutto had herself expressed concern over the inadequate security extended to her by the government, and she had reportedly written her will on Oct 16 before returning to Pakistan. Her apprehensions came true. Her assassination has badly damaged Pakistan’s image abroad. Even the US presidential candidate, Senator Hillary Clinton, has accused the Pakistan army of being behind her assassination.”

This situation is a matter of serious concern for the nation and the country, according to the resolution.

In his presidential remarks, Prof Ghafoor Ahmed said that Ms Bhutto’s martyrdom was not only a loss to the Bhutto family and the PPP, but for the entire country.

“If Pervez Musharraf remained in power, the Feb 18 elections cannot be held in a transparent manner,” he declared.

“The rulers and their security agencies remained unmoved while criminals and looters continued to play havoc with the life and property of citizens and destroyed railway properties, banks, petrol pumps, vehicles, shops and markets,” he deplored.