UN appoints panel to probe facts of Bhutto’s murder
June 20th, 2009 - 1:57 am ICT by IANS
New York, June 20 (DPA) A three-member United Nations panel was set up to investigate the facts and circumstances of the murder of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, but not the crime itself, the UN said Friday.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he had informed by letter Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari that the Commission of Inquiry will begin work July 1 for a period of six months.
But the UN said it will not be a criminal investigation, which is the responsibility of the Pakistani government.
The commission will submit a report at the end of the period, which will be shared with the Pakistani government and the UN Security Council, for its information.
Bhutto was killed in December, 2007 while campaigning in the presidential elections. She had just returned from years of exile to re-enter politics in Pakistan.
The commission is composed of Chile’s UN Ambassador Heraldo Munoz, Marzuki Darusman of Indonesia and Peter Fitzgerald of Ireland. Munoz will head the commission.
Ban said in a statement that Bhutto’s birthday anniversary falls on June 21, and is a “reminder of the tragic loss suffered by her family and the Pakistani people.”
“The United Nations is committed to assisting Pakistan by determining the facts and circumstances of her death,” he said.
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Tags: ambassador, asif ali zardari, ban ki moon, benazir bhutto, birthday anniversary, campaigning, commission of inquiry, criminal investigation, exile, heraldo munoz, july 1, june 21, marzuki darusman, pakistani government, pakistani prime minister, peter fitzgerald, presidential elections, tragic loss, un secretary general, un security council
