UN probe into Benazir’s murder to cost $20 million

Pakistan may be required to pay about $20 million or more to UN investigators if the world body gives approval to Benazir’s murder probe, official sources claimed here on Tuesday.

Unlike the Rafiq Hariri Commission, which was mandated by the UN Security Council and the required funds were donated by its member states, this time only the UN secretary-general would approve the formation of the commission on Pakistan’s request.

Sources said because of the request made by Islamabad, the UN might ask the Pakistani authorities to foot the bill, which may run into millions of dollars. Talking to The News by telephone, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmud Qureshi, who had a brief stay at London on his way back home after visiting the UN headquarters in New York, said modalities were being worked out between Pakistan and the UN.

“Pakistan may be ready to pay the cost of this probe as this issue is of national importance and parliament had authorised the move to get this high-profile murder investigated by international investigators,” he said. Qureshi, however, said he was not in a position to give an account of how much it would cost to the kitty.