EU mulls probe panel for Benazirs murder: Report
A proposal to form a 'Commission of Eminent Persons' to probe the assassination of former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto is being discussed among a section of the European Union envoys.
By PTI |
ISLAMABAD: A proposal to form a 'Commission of Eminent Persons' to probe the assassination of former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto is being discussed among a section of the European Union envoys in case the UN refuses to conduct an investigation, a media report has said.
The ambassador of a key member state of the EU, also a permanent UN Security Council member, discussed the proposal recently with Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leaders to seek their opinion on this option before placing the demand before the EU Parliament.
According to a diplomatic source, the key players of the EU are pessimistic about the UN probe for the reason that the world body does not have a mandate to do so when there is no evidence of any other countrys involvement in the assassination.
According to the proposal being discussed by some of the EU states, a 'Commission of Eminent Persons' comprising retired judges, lawyers and veteran investigators should be established to probe Bhuttos assassination, the privately-run PakTribune online news service said quoting the diplomatic source.
According to the source, the EU member states fear that the US would try to subvert efforts for the UN investigation by creating technical hitches.
A PPP source confirmed having received such a proposal from the ambassador of a EU member state but said they had not agreed to the plan as yet.
"We have asked them to provide us a draft containing the details of the scope of the investigation of Eminent Persons Commission and how it could be made feasible," a senior PPP leader said.
"We would be able to give our nod" only after going through that draft, the PPP leader said.
The ambassador of a key member state of the EU, also a permanent UN Security Council member, discussed the proposal recently with Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leaders to seek their opinion on this option before placing the demand before the EU Parliament.
According to a diplomatic source, the key players of the EU are pessimistic about the UN probe for the reason that the world body does not have a mandate to do so when there is no evidence of any other countrys involvement in the assassination.
According to the proposal being discussed by some of the EU states, a 'Commission of Eminent Persons' comprising retired judges, lawyers and veteran investigators should be established to probe Bhuttos assassination, the privately-run PakTribune online news service said quoting the diplomatic source.
According to the source, the EU member states fear that the US would try to subvert efforts for the UN investigation by creating technical hitches.
A PPP source confirmed having received such a proposal from the ambassador of a EU member state but said they had not agreed to the plan as yet.
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"We have asked them to provide us a draft containing the details of the scope of the investigation of Eminent Persons Commission and how it could be made feasible," a senior PPP leader said.
"We would be able to give our nod" only after going through that draft, the PPP leader said.
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