Pakistan says UN agrees to probe Bhutto's killing

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-11 14:27

UNITED NATIONS -- The United Nations and Pakistan have agreed on a broad understanding on the establishment of an inquiry commission on Benazir Bhutto's assassination, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Thursday.

This file photo shows that Pakistan former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto waves to her supporters during her last public rally in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on Dec. 27, 2007. She was shot and killed on the same day in a suicide attack on her vehicle as it pulled away from a campaign rally, aides said. [Agencies]

Speaking to reporters at the UN Headquarters, Qureshi said he met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon earlier in the day regarding the Pakistani government's request for an independent inquiry commission on the former prime minister's assassination.

The secretary-general responded positively to the request, Qureshi said.

Broad understanding has been reached on the commission's nature, funding modalities, composition, access to relevant information and elements to safeguard the commission's objectivity, impartiality and independence, he said.

The UN chief indicated, however, that further consultations with Pakistan and others within the United Nations were required to examine the commission's modalities and structure, Qureshi said.

Qureshi said the report of the commission would ultimately be shared with Parliament, adding that Pakistan expected that the review would not be open-ended, but would be conducted in the shortest possible time.

The foreign minister said he also met with the members of the Security Council, including the permanent five, and their response was "positive, sympathetic and very supportive."

Pakistan's UN Ambassador Munir Akram said that further details still had to be fleshed out after the two sides reached "a broad understanding on some very difficult issues."

While no decision has yet been made on who would head the commission, there was an understanding that its members would be eminent, internationally respected figures, Akram said.

The secretary-general will consult with the government of Pakistan and other members of the United Nations in naming the commission's members, Akram added.

Bhutto was killed in a suicide attack on December 27 near the capital city of Islamabad after addressing a huge political rally there.