Islamabad, Oct 25: Flaying the demand for engaging foreign experts in the probe into Karachi blasts, Pakistan Information and Broadcasting Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani said former prime minister Benazir Bhutto ''wants to rule Pakistan while residing in London''.

''If Ms Bhutto wants to employ foreigners for the investigations, she should also seek votes from them and not from the Pakistani people,'' the Minister said.

He said expressing doubts about national institutions and experts was equal to having distrust in the country as well as its people.

He said that the Pakistan People's Party leadership has shown ''political immaturity'' by leveling allegations against government institutions and officials without any substantial proof for their alleged involvement in the Karachi blasts.

''Leveling allegations without any considerable proof is a part of rotten past political culture. Soon after the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), such irresponsible statements can only harm the political environment. These maligning statements would be equally responded,'' he said.

When asked whether the Karachi blasts would affect the forthcoming general elections, the Minister said the government was making all necessary efforts to hold the polls on time.

''We are committed to holding general elections on time. The PML and its allied parties are preparing themselves for the next polls. However, it seems that the opposition is not ready for the polls and that is the reason that they are issuing irresponsible statements to deteriorate the political environment,'' Mr Durrani said.


UNI