Pak govt gives UN commission probing BB murder three-month extension

Islamabad, Dec. 23 (ANI): The Pakistan government has given its nod for a three-month extension in the mandate of the United Nations Commission probing former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination.

However, a formal announcement about the extension will be made by the UN secretary general's office later this week.

Last month, the commission had sought an extension on grounds that its work has been affected by the deteriorating law and order situation in Pakistan.

The commission, which began its work on July 1, is mandated to submit its report identifying facts and circumstances concerning Bhutto's tragic death on December 27, 2007 to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon by December, 31 ,2009.

Now that the mandate has been extended, the new deadline for the commission to submit its report is March 31, 2010.

Earlier, four members of the commission cut short their visit to Pakistan.

Sources said the investigators, who had arrived in Islamabad on December 13, quizzed several persons in the country before returning back with other security officials.

Official sources said the reason for the team cutting short its visit was probably the change in the schedule of three senior members of the fact-finding commission.

Head of the Commission, Chilean Ambassador to UN Heraldo Munoz, former Attorney General of Indonesia Marzuki Darusman and Peter Fitzgerald, a veteran of Irish national police were first cheduled to arrive in Islamabad on December 22, but the visit was postponed for undisclosed reasons. (ANI)