'Form UN commission on Benazir murder'

United Nations, Jul 12: Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmod Qureshi has requested UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to form an international commission to identify those behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

During a meeting between Secretary-General and Mr Qureshi, a broad understanding was reached on some issues concerning UN help for Pakistan's efforts following the assassination of Bhutto. Mr Ban indicated that further consultation with Pakistan and others within the UN would be required to examine the modalities and structure of such a commission.

In the meeting, broad understanding was reached on the nature of the proposed commission, funding modalities, composition of the commission, unhindered access to all sources of relevant information, and elements to safeguard the objectivity, impartiality and independence of the commission.

''While we've made some progress in terms of arriving at a broad understanding of some issues, there is the need for further consultations with Pakistan, and possibly with other States, about the scope and the mandate of this proposed committee,'' UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters here yesterday.

''We're trying to help Pakistan as we can,'' he said.

UNI