NDTV : Karachi blasts: Govt denies ISI's role

Karachi blasts: Govt denies ISI's role

NDTV Correspondent | Islamabad | October 21, 2007

The Pakistan government has denied any role played by its intelligence chief in the assassination attempt on former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on Thursday.

There were reports in the Pakistani press on Sunday that Bhutto had named an intelligence chief in a letter to President Musharraf.

Speaking on NDTV's special programme on the Karachi blasts, Pakistan Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid said the intelligence agencies were in support of Bhutto's return.

And the minister also said that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's plans to make a second attempt to return to Pakistan are far too tricky because of his pact with Saudi Arabia.

In other words, it was an indication that Sharif may well be deported again.

Meanwhile, Benazir Bhutto visited bomb blast survivors being treated at the Government's Jinnah hospital in Karachi.

She also gave special prayers for the victims of last week's suicide bombing.

Around 140 people were killed and 325 were wounded in last week's attack on Bhutto during her homecoming parade in Karachi.