Bhutto's husband speaks out on poll
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Asif Ali Zardari, husband of the late Benazir Bhutto and now leading spokesman for her Pakistan People's Party, has laid down a series of criteria that President Musharraf must meet for the country's 18 February elections to be deemed "free, fair and credible".
Writing for today's Independent on Sunday, he says the elections must be "conducted under a new, neutral caretaker government... supervised by a truly independent and autonomous election commission... monitored by international observers with unfettered access to all polling stations... arbitrated by an independent judiciary". He adds that there "must be a restoration of full electronic and print press freedoms... and all political activists, lawyers and judges in detention must be released".
Meanwhile, Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command team arrived yesterday under police guard at the site of Ms Bhutto's assassination in Rawalpindi, visiting rooftops of buildings surrounding the ground and taking photos.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments