UN to present report on Benazir's murder on April 15

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations formally announced on Friday that the report on Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's assassination will be presented to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday, April 15.

The UN chief will share the report with the Pakistani Government and submit it to the Security Council for information.

At the regular noon briefing at UN Headquarters in New York, Spokesman Farhan Haq also announced that Chilean Ambassador Heraldo Muoz, who headed the Independent Commission of Inquiry, would release the report at a press conference Thursday afternoon.

Earlier this week, the spokesperson denied Pakistani media report that the government has sought further delay in the release of the report.

"We have received no such request," Spokesperson Farhan Haq said, in response to questions.

On March 30, Ban Ki-moon accepted a request from President Asif Ali Zardari to delay the release of a report until April 15.

The three-member Commission was set up following a request from the Pakistani Government and began its work in July 2009.

The commission members include Marzuki Darusman, the former attorney-general of Indonesia, and Peter Fitzgerald, a veteran of the Irish National Police who has also served the UN in a number of capacities.

"The Commission has informed the Secretary-General that, as of today, all relevant facts and circumstances have been explored, and the report is now complete and ready to be delivered," a March 31 official UN statement said.

The Commission, whose term has ended, will submit its report on April 15 to the UN chief, who will share the report with the Pakistani Government and submit it to the Security Council for information.