Ban to set up independent probe into assassination of former Pakistani leader

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will establish an independent Commission of Inquiry to determine the facts and circumstances of the December 2007 assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

The Commission, which has been requested by the Government of Pakistan, will be composed of three eminent personalities and will have a mandate of a maximum of six months, Mr. Ban said in a letter to the Security Council President made public today.

Following discussions with Pakistani authorities and members of the Security Council, it has been agreed that the new body should be “fact-finding in nature,” not expanding into a criminal investigation, he noted.

“The duty of determining criminal responsibility of the perpetrators of the assassination would remain with the Pakistani authorities,” the letter said.

The Secretary-General, who made his first state visit to Pakistan yesterday, said that the South Asian nation’s authorities will cooperate with the Commission, which will be given “unhindered access to all relevant sources of information.”

Pakistan will contribute “seed money” to help set up security and technical assessment missions, and the three-member body will be funded by voluntary contributions from Member States.