UK keeping close watch on Karachi blasts

The United Kingdom Government is keeping a close watch on the probe into the October 18 attack on former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhuttos homecoming rally in Karachi in which over 138 people were killed.

London, Oct 29 : The United Kingdom Government is keeping a close watch on the probe into the October 18 attack on former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's homecoming rally in Karachi in which over 138 people were killed.

The UK journalist Christina Lamb and author Victoria Schofield were also on board of the targeted truck.

An appeal to all member countries by the UN Security Council to cooperate with the Pakistan Government is said to have encouraged London to continue to probe the possibility of sending its own investigators to Pakistan and providing technical help, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said that any request for help would have to be made via the Foreign Office.

An FCO spokesman said: "We have not yet been contacted by the Pakistani government but any request for assistance would be given careful consideration."

According to the newspaper, Benazir has asked Pakistan Interior Ministry to seek help from Scotland Yard.

"I have written to the Pakistan Ministry of Interior, asking them to get Scotland Yard to assist," the Dawn quoted her, as saying.

"I have done this because Pakistan lacks the scientific capabilities to make such an investigation and to identify not just the perpetrators but the financiers and sponsors," she added.

ANI