This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8127833.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
UN begins Bhutto killing inquiry | UN begins Bhutto killing inquiry |
(20 minutes later) | |
A United Nations inquiry into the assassination of former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto begins on Wednesday. | A United Nations inquiry into the assassination of former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto begins on Wednesday. |
It is headed by Chile's ambassador to the UN, Heraldo Munoz, and includes a former Indonesian attorney general and a former senior Irish police officer. | It is headed by Chile's ambassador to the UN, Heraldo Munoz, and includes a former Indonesian attorney general and a former senior Irish police officer. |
The inquiry will last six months and investigate the "facts and circumstances" of Ms Bhutto's killing. | The inquiry will last six months and investigate the "facts and circumstances" of Ms Bhutto's killing. |
She was killed in December 2007 as she left a rally of her Pakistan People's Party (PPP) supporters in Rawalpindi. | She was killed in December 2007 as she left a rally of her Pakistan People's Party (PPP) supporters in Rawalpindi. |
The three-member inquiry team will arrive in Pakistan later this month and submit its report to the UN Secretary General in six months, reports say. | The three-member inquiry team will arrive in Pakistan later this month and submit its report to the UN Secretary General in six months, reports say. |
Apart from Mr Munoz, the other members of the probe team are Marzuki Darusman, the former Indonesian attorney-general, and Peter Fitzgerald, who had headed an early inquiry into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri. | Apart from Mr Munoz, the other members of the probe team are Marzuki Darusman, the former Indonesian attorney-general, and Peter Fitzgerald, who had headed an early inquiry into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri. |
Pakistan's Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, told the BBC that his government thought the UN investigation was necessary to find out who was behind the attack. | Pakistan's Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, told the BBC that his government thought the UN investigation was necessary to find out who was behind the attack. |
We think this was a big international conspiracy Rehman Malik, Pakistan interior minister | We think this was a big international conspiracy Rehman Malik, Pakistan interior minister |
"We want to know who was behind this, who had conspired it, who has financed it. And we think this was a big international conspiracy," he said. | "We want to know who was behind this, who had conspired it, who has financed it. And we think this was a big international conspiracy," he said. |
"Obviously, there might be some actors within in Pakistan or within region, but we want really expose the whole conspiracy, because we think that this was a kind of a beginning of an attempt to Balkanise Pakistan." | "Obviously, there might be some actors within in Pakistan or within region, but we want really expose the whole conspiracy, because we think that this was a kind of a beginning of an attempt to Balkanise Pakistan." |
These are challenging times in Pakistan to carry out such an investigation, says the BBC's World Affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge in Islamabad. | These are challenging times in Pakistan to carry out such an investigation, says the BBC's World Affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge in Islamabad. |
That is not least because the Pakistan Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, accused by the last government here of being behind the assassination, is the target of a two-month-old military offensive and his militant network has hit back with retaliatory suicide attacks. | That is not least because the Pakistan Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, accused by the last government here of being behind the assassination, is the target of a two-month-old military offensive and his militant network has hit back with retaliatory suicide attacks. |
The Taliban commander has denied having anything to do with Ms Bhutto's killing. | |
'Rogue elements' | 'Rogue elements' |
Her assassination left questions unresolved for many people here, but especially her own party, which is now in government. | Her assassination left questions unresolved for many people here, but especially her own party, which is now in government. |
British detectives conclude a lone attacker fired the shots | British detectives conclude a lone attacker fired the shots |
After she had narrowly escaped a double suicide bombing on the day of her arrival back in Pakistan from self-imposed exile in October 2007, she accused what she called "enemies" and "rogue elements" in the then-government led by President Pervez Musharraf and in the intelligence agencies of plotting to kill her. | After she had narrowly escaped a double suicide bombing on the day of her arrival back in Pakistan from self-imposed exile in October 2007, she accused what she called "enemies" and "rogue elements" in the then-government led by President Pervez Musharraf and in the intelligence agencies of plotting to kill her. |
The UN inquiry cannot itself launch criminal proceedings, but can apparently apportion blame if it chooses to do so. | The UN inquiry cannot itself launch criminal proceedings, but can apparently apportion blame if it chooses to do so. |
Officials say the inquiry will work "fairly discreetly". | Officials say the inquiry will work "fairly discreetly". |
Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf had blamed an al-Qaeda-linked militant for the attack and refused to seek a UN inquiry. | Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf had blamed an al-Qaeda-linked militant for the attack and refused to seek a UN inquiry. |
He invited police from London's Scotland Yard to assist in the inquiry into her death. | He invited police from London's Scotland Yard to assist in the inquiry into her death. |
In their report the British detectives said they believed she died due to a severe head injury sustained as a consequence of a bomb blast. | In their report the British detectives said they believed she died due to a severe head injury sustained as a consequence of a bomb blast. |
The Pakistani investigation into her death concluded that a lone attacker fired shots at Ms Bhutto before detonating explosives, but said that bullets were not the cause of death. | The Pakistani investigation into her death concluded that a lone attacker fired shots at Ms Bhutto before detonating explosives, but said that bullets were not the cause of death. |
Wider enquiry | Wider enquiry |
Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) rejected both these versions, claiming adequate security had not been provided for Ms Bhutto, and called for a wider inquiry by the UN to establish the identity and motives of the assassins. | Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) rejected both these versions, claiming adequate security had not been provided for Ms Bhutto, and called for a wider inquiry by the UN to establish the identity and motives of the assassins. |
A PPP-led coalition defeated Mr Musharraf's allies in general elections last year. | A PPP-led coalition defeated Mr Musharraf's allies in general elections last year. |
Ms Bhutto, twice prime minister of Pakistan, lived in self-imposed exile after Mr Musharraf assumed power in 1999. | Ms Bhutto, twice prime minister of Pakistan, lived in self-imposed exile after Mr Musharraf assumed power in 1999. |
Mr Musharraf had refused to seek an UN probe | Mr Musharraf had refused to seek an UN probe |
In October 2007 she returned to Pakistan to campaign for the PPP in parliamentary and provincial elections - the first to be held since President Musharraf resigned as head of the army and became a civilian leader | In October 2007 she returned to Pakistan to campaign for the PPP in parliamentary and provincial elections - the first to be held since President Musharraf resigned as head of the army and became a civilian leader |
Shortly after her return, she survived bomb attacks on her convoy in Karachi that killed more than 100 people. | Shortly after her return, she survived bomb attacks on her convoy in Karachi that killed more than 100 people. |
But Ms Bhutto continued to campaign and was assassinated on 27 December at a PPP rally in Rawalpindi. | But Ms Bhutto continued to campaign and was assassinated on 27 December at a PPP rally in Rawalpindi. |
She was standing upright in her armoured vehicle, with her head exposed above the open roof escape hatch, waving to the crowd when an attacker opened fire. | She was standing upright in her armoured vehicle, with her head exposed above the open roof escape hatch, waving to the crowd when an attacker opened fire. |
Seconds later, a bomb was set off at the scene which left some 20 other people dead. | Seconds later, a bomb was set off at the scene which left some 20 other people dead. |
Do you believe the UN inquiry is the correct way forward? What do you think it will achieve? Send us your comments on the form below. | |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |