UN delays Bhutto killing report
The United Nations has accepted a request by the Pakistani government to postpone the publication of a report on the murder of ex-premier Benazir Bhutto.
The decision came as a UN inquiry panel was expected to present its findings about Bhutto’s killing to UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday.
The UN says the report will be released by April 15.
“The secretary general has accepted an urgent request by the president of Pakistan to delay the presentation of the report… until April 15,” UN spokesman Martin Nesirky told a press briefing.
Bhutto, the first woman to become prime minister of a Muslim country, was killed three years ago in an attack after addressing an election rally near Islamabad.
Nesirky said he did not know the reason for the late request to hold the report back.
He further confirmed that the report had been finished and that neither the UN secretary general nor the Pakistani government had seen it.
Another UN spokeswoman also said earlier that the world body plans to shut its offices in Pakistan for three days as the country awaits the release of the report.
Ishrat Rizvi added that all UN staff has been advised to work from home.
She says the move is “a precautionary measure” to prevent unexpected attacks on the offices after the release of the report.
“It’s a precautionary measure to avoid any unwanted situation that may occur after the publication of this report, for the safety and security of staff members,” she added.
The UN-appointed independent panel, which began its investigation last July, held talks with many people to find those behind the assassination attack.
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