The United Nations three-member fact-finding commission established to look into the assassination of former Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto will begin its work on July 1, UN Spokesperson announced Friday.
"The Secretary-General has informed the Government of Pakistan, by letter to President Asif Ali Zardari, that the Commission of Inquiry into the facts and circumstances of the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto will commence its six-month mandate on 1 July," Ms Montas said in a statement at the regular noon briefing.
The Commission, which is headed Chile's UN Ambassador Heraldo Mu'oz, and includes Marzuki Darusman of Indonesia; and Peter Fitzgerald of Ireland. "In accordance with the agreed Terms of Reference, the Commission's mandate will be to inquire into the facts and circumstances of the assassination of former Prime Minister Bhutto", she said. "The duty of determining criminal responsibility of the perpetrators of the assassination remains with the Pakistani authorities".
Asked why that function has been left to the Pakistani authorities, the spokesperson said the commission was not a tribunal. The statement said the Commission will submit its report to the Secretary-General within six months of the commencement of its activities.
The Secretary-General, she said, will share the report with the Pakistan Government and submit it to the Security Council for information. "The Secretary-General notes that the anniversary of the birth of former Prime Minister Bhutto is on 21 June, and is a reminder of the tragic loss suffered by her family and the Pakistani people."