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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moom has agreed to Pakistan’s request to establish an independent commission that will investigate the martyrdom of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Thursday evening.
Qureshi announced the agreement at a press conference after detailed talks with the U.N. chief on the formation of the commission.
“Responding positively to the issue, the Secretary General indicated that further consultation with Pakistan and others within the Organization would be required to examine the modalities and structure of a Commission to determine the circumstances of, and responsibilities for, the martyrdom of the former prime minister Benazir Bhutto,” the foreign minister added.
He said, “The objectives are for the commission to identify the culprits, perpetrators, organizers and financiers of the martyrdom.” The secretary-general would appoint “well-respected, eminent people” to the independent commission in consultations with the government of Pakistan.
The secretary-General’s office later confirmed the decision.
“We have reached an understanding, and there is a concrete decision on that,” the foreign minister said. “What is being discussed and further consultations are required are on the modalities.”
He said a “broad understanding” had been reached on the nature of the proposed commission, funding modalities, the unhindered access to all sources of relevant information and elements to safeguard the objectivity, impartiality and the independence of commission.
Replying to a question, he said that the commission would report to both—the government of Pakistan and the secretary-general.
Qureshi said he believed the secretary-general had authority without the U.N. Security Council’s approval to set up a commission to try to identify the culprits in Benazir’s martyrdom as quickly as possible. “There is no need to refer the request to the Security Council,” he said in response to a question.
But Qureshi also said some council members he spoke with were supportive of establishing a commission. Indeed, The U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said his government would “weigh in” in support of Pakistan’s request for U.N. probe into Benazir’s murder.
“The broad understanding is going to be that it should be done in the shortest possible time, so that we do not want it sort of a lingering thing, going on for years,” Qureshi said when asked about the timeframe for the completion of investigation.
Benazir was martyred in a gun and suicide bomb attack on Dec. 27 as she left an election rally in Rawalpindi.
Qureshi said Pakistan would extend help to the commission as much as possible. “We have said that we will give unhindered access to sources of relevant information,” he said.
On Wednesday, Qureshi said the people of Pakistan had not accepted the results of the inquiry conducted in the wake of the gun-and-bomb attack that killed the PPP leader last December. “Our people have faith in this institution, its impartiality and neutrality to do the job,” he said of the U.N.
On Thursday, Qureshi also said the report of the commission would ultimately be shared with Parliament, which had passed unanimous resolution calling for U.N. probe.
About his other activities in New York, he said he had participated in Wednesday’s Security Council debate on Afghanistan, noting that Pakistan would be the first to feel the impact of any improvement or deterioration in the neighbouring country. The minister had held a frank, cordial, friendly and engaging meeting with his Afghan counterpart Rangin Ddfar Spant, and there had been an understanding of each other’s point of view.
Asked about recent deployments of the Pakistani army and possible collaboration with United States forces, the foreign minister reiterated Pakistan’s consistent policy that only Pakistani forces would operate within the country.
Asked about his position on Iran’s nuclear programme, he said Pakistan had always requested all sides to show restraint, stressing that the matter should be handled carefully and resolved through negotiations.
As a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Iran had a right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, but it should also honour and respect world opinion and address the concerns raised about its programme.

Source:Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2008