Pakistan to request to UN for setting up International Commission to probe Benazir’s assassination

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan Thursday decided to send formal request to the UN Secretary General to establish an ‘International Commission’ to probe the assassination of former Prime Minister and leader of Pakistan People Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Law Minister Farooq Naek briefing newsmen here at Foreign Office said they will meet UN Secretary General next month to formally hand over the request from Pakistan government to constitute the International Commission to probe and trace the culprits involved in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto who was killed in Rawalpindi on December 27, last year.
The Foreign Minister said national sovereignty and integrity would be protected at all cost and there will be no compromise on it during the investigation by International Commission in this case.
Giving details of the procedure being adopted in this regard, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, said a formal request has been sent to the UN Secretary General through Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to UN Munir Akram for a meeting with him and Law Minister so that formal request from Pakistan government can be handed over to him.
The Foreign Minister said the basic aim of requesting the UN to constitute International Commission for probing the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto as it was a great loss to the country and international community because her death as she was a great leader.
He said, the probe by International Commission is only to find the culprits behind the assassination and it is not a matter of witch-hunting or to achieve any political benefit.
Qureshi said the request for probe to UN is being sent after unanimous resolutions passed by National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies and on the directive of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.
He said Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Law and Interior worked together and consulated each other before finalising the formal request to be sent to the UN for establishing an International Commission to probe the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
He said following the passage of unanimous resolutions, the request has public support and mandate and it reflects aspirations of the people of Pakistan.
Qureshi said during their visit to United Nations, they will also consult the matter with other countries especially the permanent members of the UN Security Council.
The Law Minister Farooq Naek said co-Chairman of PPP Asif Ali Zardari wanted to have enquiry by UN Commission but the UN treated requests only from the government, therefore, now the government has decided to send such proposal in a formal manner.
He said the main objective to the International Commission would be to probe the culprits, who financed the murder, and who were responsible for it.
Referring to the statements of officials during the caretaker government, Law Minister said, there were reports that Baitullah Mahsood could be involved in the murder of Benazir Bhutto, therefore, it was necessary to go in detail into the murder through a international investigation.
“We want fair, impartial and natural investigation,” said Shah Mahmood Qureshi adding that the government has no intention to point finger on any one in this case.
The Foreign Minister said, “We want that the investigation process should be completed in a way that no one could be criticised of victimised.
Replying to a question for the justification to send the request to UN for investigation, the Law Minister said as Baitullah Mahsood has links with Al-Qaida and its has been operating from different countries and Pakistani investigative agencies have limitation and restriction to reach to such international factors.
About sharing the terms of reference and other details being mentioned in the formal request to be delivered to the UN Secretary General, the Foreign Minister said once the request will be delivered to the SG then its details could be shared with the media.
The Foreign Minister said as Baitullah Mahsood has denied involvement in the assassination, therefore, it was more essential to probe the incident by a international commission.
Regarding the investigations done by a team of Scotland Yard, the Foreign Minister said the team came to Pakistan with limited reference and the cause of the death was the main objective for them.
The Foreign Minister said all documents, letters of Benazir Bhutto about threats to her life, and investigations done in this regard would be presented to the members of the International Commission including the report that some officials had washed the crime scene.