Secretary-General to Extend Mandate of Commission on Bhutto Assassination

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General has informed the Government of Pakistan that he intends to extend to 31 March 2010 the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry into the facts and circumstances of the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.  He has also informed the Security Council of the same.

The Commission commenced on 1 July 2009 and was to have submitted its report on 31 December 2009.  Because of the substantial amount of information collected by the Commission in Pakistan, and further follow-up work that remains, the Commissioners requested additional time to complete their report.

At the completion of its mandate, the Commission will submit its report to the Secretary-General, who will share it with the Government of Pakistan.

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For information media • not an official record