Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro has said the elections will be held as scheduled in January and no decision has yet been taken to defer it.

Soomro ordered a judicial inquiry into the killing of Pakistan People’s Party chairperson Benazir Bhutto on Friday. Talking to reporters after chairing an emergency meeting of cabinet members to review political situation in the country in view of the death of PPP leader, Soomro said the head of the inquiry committee would be appointed in consultation with the PPP leaders and a specific time frame would be given for the submission of the report.

The Prime Minister said the results of the judicial enquiry would be made public. He, however, urged the nation to show patience and tolerance and not to get carried away and resort to damaging public and private property.

“I appeal the nation to remain calm and not to fall victim to instigation by the same enemies of the country that have damaged the country by assassinating Benazir Bhutto,” he added.

He said the death of Benazir Bhutto was a tragic incident. He urged the nation not to make their countrymen suffer due to their emotional outbursts.

About the decision not to hold postmortem, Soomro said it was the decision of the family and was taken in consultation with the PPP.

He said the security forces had been deployed and they would take all necessary measures to ensure that there was no lawlessness.

The Prime Minister said the government remained in constant touch with the PPP leadership and ensured the smooth transfer of the body of former Prime Minister from the Rawalpindi General Hospital to the airport late Friday night.

“We express our gratitude to the party leaders for remaining calm that helped move the body from hospital to airport.”

Caretaker information minister Nisar A. Memon and interior minister Hamid Nawaz Khan, who flanked the Prime Minister, informed the media about the special meeting of the Cabinet, specially convened to mourn the tragic death.

“The meeting condemned the barbaric and terrorist attack on her in strong terms,” he said.

“Pakistan has lost a key political leader,” Memon said. He said the meeting expressed its condolences to the family of Benazir and offered condolences to party leaders and workers.

He said the Cabinet expressed its firm resolve to continue to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

He said the Cabinet meeting scheduled for Saturday had now been cancelled in view of the great national tragedy.

Memon said the federal Cabinet in its meeting paid tributes to Benazir.

Interior minister Hamid Nawaz Khan said his ministry was regularly in touch with the party and had shared with them intelligence reports about threats of suicide bombing.

“We suggested change in plan and to be discreet in movement,” he said. He added that a full time SSP was regularly in touch with the local authorities to ensure Benazir’s complete protection.

He said five police personnel lost their lives in the Liaquat Bagh attack amid tight security. However, the attacker struck her as she left the place.

Regarding complaints that the jammers provided to Bhutto’s security, the interior minister said, “Jamming devices are not effective against suicide bombers, and can suppress only radio controlled devices.”

He also dismissed reports in the Press that bullets had been fired from some police van and said there was no truth in it.

He said there was a need to exhibit patience during protests as criminal elements might join and cause lawlessness.

About Al-Qaeda’s claim of carrying out the assassination, he said investigation was being carried out keeping in view all aspects

Meawhile, interior ministry spokesman Brig Javed Iqbal Cheema has said that Benazir Bhutto’s death was caused by a flying shrapnel, which hit the right side of her skull.

He said, “According to a medical report submitted to the interior ministry, she died due to a flying shrapnel, after the suicide bomber blew himself up, which hit her in the skull resulting in a fatal fracture.”

However, he said, the suicide bomber also targeted her with his pistol, but she had no bullet injury.

He said Al-Qaeda in a statement had accepted the responsibility of her assassination, as in the past she had been receiving life threats from this terrorist group.

About security measures, he said security had been further beefed up in the country and the federal and provincial governments had been given directives in this regard.