Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
* Qureshis letter to UN chief released on Thursday states that observations made about Army, ISI not based on evidence
* Ban will reply to letter, probe wont reopen
UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has pointed out a spate of inaccuracies and unsubstantiated observations in the UN Commission report on the assassination of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Benazir Bhutto, saying that such unauthenticated inferences hold no credence at any level.
In a letter addressed to the UN secretary general made public by the UN on Thursday, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi counted, among other things, a lack of attention paid to any international dimension of the tragic Dec 27, 2007 killing of the former prime minister. He also took issue with repeated but proof-lacking finger-pointing at the role of Pakistani security agencies and the establishment.
Opinions: In particular, the foreign minister, without detracting from much of the good work done by the members of the commission, said that comments and observations about the Pakistan Army, the Inter-Services Intelligence or the so-called establishment, are only the opinions of the members of the Commission. They do not represent authenticated determinations based on any fact or evidence.
He wrote that the government of Pakistan maintains that any comments, observations or findings given in the report in respect to all matters except those that are directly relevant to the facts and circumstances of the assassination of Benazir shall not be viewed as having determined any fact that relates to any matter of foreign policy of Pakistan, neither shall it have the effect of influencing any position that the government of Pakistan has been adhering hitherto.
Qureshi stated that the report has a serious flaw because the commission has failed to approach third states or to provide some reliable information to unearth, if any, international linkages perpetrating, planning, financing or abetting the assassination of Benazir.
Further, he wrote, Pakistan wishes to present the clear understanding that the comments and observations made by the commission in the report, which are not authenticated and referenced, shall not be used or adopted by any state or institution. About the account given in the report of the tragic incident, the letter said no referential information or supporting material has been provided. Similarly, the role of different persons is discussed without any proof or relevant material.
Reply: Separately, Farhan Haq, associate spokesman for the UN secretary general, said that Ban Ki-moon intended to reply to Qureshis letter. Were working on the reply, Haq said, adding that Ban would not reopen the UN investigation. app
* Qureshis letter to UN chief released on Thursday states that observations made about Army, ISI not based on evidence
* Ban will reply to letter, probe wont reopen
UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has pointed out a spate of inaccuracies and unsubstantiated observations in the UN Commission report on the assassination of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Benazir Bhutto, saying that such unauthenticated inferences hold no credence at any level.
In a letter addressed to the UN secretary general made public by the UN on Thursday, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi counted, among other things, a lack of attention paid to any international dimension of the tragic Dec 27, 2007 killing of the former prime minister. He also took issue with repeated but proof-lacking finger-pointing at the role of Pakistani security agencies and the establishment.
Opinions: In particular, the foreign minister, without detracting from much of the good work done by the members of the commission, said that comments and observations about the Pakistan Army, the Inter-Services Intelligence or the so-called establishment, are only the opinions of the members of the Commission. They do not represent authenticated determinations based on any fact or evidence.
He wrote that the government of Pakistan maintains that any comments, observations or findings given in the report in respect to all matters except those that are directly relevant to the facts and circumstances of the assassination of Benazir shall not be viewed as having determined any fact that relates to any matter of foreign policy of Pakistan, neither shall it have the effect of influencing any position that the government of Pakistan has been adhering hitherto.
Qureshi stated that the report has a serious flaw because the commission has failed to approach third states or to provide some reliable information to unearth, if any, international linkages perpetrating, planning, financing or abetting the assassination of Benazir.
Further, he wrote, Pakistan wishes to present the clear understanding that the comments and observations made by the commission in the report, which are not authenticated and referenced, shall not be used or adopted by any state or institution. About the account given in the report of the tragic incident, the letter said no referential information or supporting material has been provided. Similarly, the role of different persons is discussed without any proof or relevant material.
Reply: Separately, Farhan Haq, associate spokesman for the UN secretary general, said that Ban Ki-moon intended to reply to Qureshis letter. Were working on the reply, Haq said, adding that Ban would not reopen the UN investigation. app
