Independent UN probe into Bhutto killing concludes second visit to Pakistan

Members of the independent United Nations commission charged with examining the facts and circumstances behind the December 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto have completed their second visit to Pakistan.

The Commission of Inquiry, which formally started its work on 1 July, held meetings with a range of Pakistani citizens, diverse political party leaders and Government officials, and also gathered additional materials relevant to the inquiry, a UN spokesperson told reporters.

Staff working with the team will be staying in Pakistan to conduct further inquiry.

During its previous visit in July, the three-member Commission visited the city of Rawalpindi where the Ms. Bhutto was killed and held meetings with top officials.

Headed by Ambassador Heraldo Muñoz of Chile, the Commission also comprises Marzuki Darusman, the former attorney-general of Indonesia, and Peter Fitzgerald, a veteran of the Irish National Police who has also served the UN in a number of capacities.

Set up following a request from the Pakistani Government, the team will submit a report to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon within six months of the start of its work.

The inquiry was among several issues discussed by Mr. Ban and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari during their meeting last week in New York on the sidelines of the annual high-level debate of the General Assembly.