Pak Foreign Secretary opposed to UN probe into Benazir's assassination

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Muhammad Khan appears to be on a collision course with the new coalition government led by the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

According to sources, the government has expressed its annoyance over Khan raising objections to a United Nations probe into the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.

Khan is reportedly in agreement with certain elements in the Foreign Office (FO) who were opposed to the idea of seeking UN assistance to investigate the bombing on December 27.

The Daily Times quoted sources as saying that his opposition to a key government decision might land him in serious trouble, though he is trying to build bridges withForeign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and is hosting a reception today to introduce ambassadors and high commissioners to Qureshi.

Sources said several Foreign Office officials, apart from the Foreign Secretary, are professionally averse to the idea of involving the UN in the probe as they believed that asking the UN for help in a purely internal matter would set an unhealthy precedent for the body to interfere in the affairs of other countries.

Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said that any decision on the probe would be taken by the government.