Benazir murder probe to cost $40 to United Nations

New York, Sep 28: The probe into the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto will cost the United Nations 40 million dollar and the world body would generate the amount through its own resources. The investigators and account authorities of the organisation have made the estimates, sources revealed.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has asked head of the UN Security and Under-Secretary General for Security and Safety Sir David Veness to dash to Islamabad to look into the security aspects in Pakistan. He will submit a report about the security situation to the UNSG on his return, The News reported. Sir David Veness, a British national who is considered an authority on criminology, would meet Rehman Malik and other high ranking officials to gather credible information about the security arrangements for the people and foreigners, particularly UN officials. Highly placed sources revealed on Saturday, Sep 27 that the visit of the UN security chief would be significant as his report would determine the future working of different UN organisations in Pakistan.

Jamil Ahmad Khan, ambassador-at-large who has vast experience of security affairs and enjoys diplomatic status within the UN, had an important meeting with the UN security chief and discussed with his scheduled visit to Pakistan.

The two will coordinate the trip and the Government of Pakistan will accordingly be notified about the planned visit of Sir David.

It is expected that the UN security chief will also submit his recommendations to the government to improve the security environment in Pakistan.

He will also have meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.

The sources said that the UNSG has agreed in principle to constitute a high-powered fact-finding commission to probe the assassination of Bhutto.

It is expected that the fact-finding body would be constituted and get down to work within a couple of weeks.

ANI