Benazir Bhutto probe stalled over lack of funds

RAWALPINDI: The United Nations commission appointed to investigate the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has asked the Pakistan government to expedite the release of funds promised by donor countries so that the probe into high profile case could be started, Dawn has learnt.

The commission has described the initial estimate of $4 million for the probe as inadequate and insufficient and has demanded a substantial increase.

The source said Mr Mark Quarterman, the chief of staff of the Benazir Bhutto Commission, had informed Pakistani representative about the UN officials’ meeting with the representatives of donor countries regarding generation of funds for the Commission.

Germany, Japan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait and Saudi Arabia had been identified by the government of Pakistan as the donor countries.

The source said the UN officials had held a meeting with the representatives of the donor countries as they all were invited to ensure the provision of funds but no one from Kuwait and United Arab Emirates participated in the meeting while Saudi Arabia apologized for the participation.

The source said, Pakistani representative informed the foreign office in Islamabad that no one among those, who attended the meeting had made any promise regarding the provision of funds.

Contrary to the previous stance, the UN would request the donors for early provision of financial contributions so that the commission of Benazir Bhutto could start its probe, the source said.

The UN had prepared estimates of US $4 million and asked the government of Pakistan to ensure the early release of funds, promised by the donor countries.

Six members, UN advance technical assessment team headed by Mark Quarterman had already visited Pakistan in April and had held talks with interior advisor Rehman Malik.

The UN advance team had reviewed the security of the UN Investigation commission who is to start probe into the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a gun-and-bomb attack after a public rally outside Liaquat Bagh Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007.

The Pakistani government had requested the United Nations to establish a commission to probe into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
source: www.dawn.com