Pervez Musharraf: 'Uncertainty has engulfed the whole country'

OPINION

The nation has faced a great tragedy. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has been martyred by the terrorists. I have condoled with her husband Asif Zardari, her sister Sanam Bhutto as well as her children. Once again, I offer my condolences to the bereaved family and pray to Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace.

The situation continued to deteriorate since her martyrdom. Conspiracy theories were hatched. Allegations and counter-allegations were made. A situation of confusion and uncertainty was created, which usually happens in Pakistan in such circumstances. This uncertainty has engulfed the whole country.

I fully realise the anger, the grief and sorrow which prevails in the ranks of People's Party, particularly among my Sindhi brothers and sisters. I would like to state here that I am equally grieved. I value yours and the whole nation's sentiments.

However, when the whole nation and specially the People's Party was rightfully expressing their grief and anger, many gangsters and goons and some political elements exploited the situation and resorted to loot, plunder and devastation. This act caused unbearable losses to the people and the country. The daily wage workers and the poor people could not reach the place of their work and obviously, they have suffered a lot of trouble. The subversive elements burnt so many petrol pumps that the remaining ones were closed by their owners out of fear. As a result, all the buses, trucks, vehicles and taxis remained off the roads.

Similarly, Railways suffered huge losses; engines and bogies were burnt and even the railway tracks were dismantled at some places. The whole railway system was rendered non-operational. The trains and the passengers were stranded at various stations. We are making arrangements for their onward journey to their respective destinations.

Under such a situation, doctors and nurses could not attend hospitals. Therefore, those who were sick and needed immediate medical attention suffered. Even the Edhi Centres of Maulana Abdul Sattar Edhi were attacked and ransacked. Shops, particularly the jewellery and ammunition shops, were targeted, looted and then set ablaze. The banks were ransacked and put on fire. Apart from these incidents, some prisoners were released by attacking the prisons. Jails were broken, which is particularly regrettable as the hundreds of escaped prisoners might be creating law and order situation in the country.

Moreover, the election offices set up by the Election Commission, the polling stations and the equipment put up there were all destroyed. It put the Election Commission to confront a troublesome situation. I am told that some miscreants and subversive elements loaded with machine guns and rocket launchers have been roaming around the city roads. This occurred mostly in Sindh. The unfortunate aspect of the whole episode is that the political elements have played their "role", which is intolerable and deplorable. The businesses of those people have been targeted who were opposed to them. On the other hand, the businesses of their supporters have been spared.

The next issue which I want to address is the martyrdom of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto: how she was martyred, who did it, and secondly, I want to have an in-depth information of this incident and also wish to share this with the whole nation as it is imperative to resolve the confusion. Since day one of the incident, a lot of footage, technical evidence and eyewitness accounts of the incident are coming forth. The fresh evidences necessitate expert analysis. Therefore, we have decided to request an investigation team of Scotland Yard from the UK.

(Excerpts from Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's address to the nation on January 2, 2008)