UN probe into Benazir's murder against Pak's sovereignty, says petition

Lahore, July 25 : A political leader in Pakistan, said to be belonging to a nationalist party, is learnt to have moved the country's Supreme Court against the federal government's move to go for UN probe and spending nearly Rs 700 crore rupees on the same.

The petitioner, Watan Party's Punjab president Hashim Shaukat Khan, contended that if the probe was conducted by the UN, people will lose confidence in the country's investigating and legal institutions.

President of Pakistan, federal government and the federal Law Ministry have been made respondents in the petition.

Khan's counsel Zafarullah said in the petition the appointment of a UN commission or any such request was "unconstitutional", and deemed a UN investigation into Benazir's killing against the sovereignty of Pakistan and violation of fundamental rights.

He also said that the UN Security Counsel (UNSC) could summon anyone for investigation and access Pakistan's nuclear system if a UN commission was formed to investigate Benazir's assassination.

"Pakistan as a nation should not place its fate in the hands of the UN Secretary General who cannot go beyond his charter rules, unless wished by Washington under the Article 98 of the UN charter," Zafarullah said in the petition.

ANI