BB case: Pak denies UN Commission permission to quiz army's top commanders

Lahore, Jan.1(ANI): The Pakistan government has denied giving permission to the United Nation's (UN) commission probing the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to interrogate Army's top brass, including the Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

According to a private television channel, the UN commission had asked the government to grant the permission to quiz top army leaders, including army chief General Ashfaq Kayani, former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt. Gen. Nadeem Taj and former Military Intelligence chief Lt. Gen. Ejaz Mian.

It may be noted that under the terms and conditions of the UN commission, Islamabad has to provide access to any official or a particular individual, who the commission considers could throw light on the December 2007 assassination.

"In the conduct of its inquiry the commission shall enjoy the full cooperation of the government of Pakistan. The government shall comply with the requests of the commission for assistance in collecting the required information and testimony, and shall provide it with the necessary facilities to enable it to discharge its mandate," the commission's mandate states. (ANI)