September 09, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 8, 1429

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 8: Pakistan’s new Permanent Representative to the United Nations Abdullah Hussain Haroon urged United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on Monday to appoint an inquiry commission for probe into the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto last December.

He said the secretary-general had told him that his doors were open for further discussions on the subject.

Speaking to Pakistani journalists after presenting his credentials to the UN chief, Mr Haroon said he conveyed to the UN chief the greetings of president-elect Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Responding to a question, Mr Haroon said that Mr Zardari would head Pakistan’s delegation to the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly.

During the 30-minute meeting held in a cordial atmosphere, he said, he paid tributes to the secretary-general for his leadership in backing the much-needed dialogue among civilisations, the critical issue of climate change and the anti-poverty millennium development goals. The ambassador especially complimented him for pushing for the implementation of MDGs which gave hope to the world’s poor.

On the just-concluded presidential elections, Mr Haroon said the secretary-general spoke very warmly about Mr Zardari. He said that he would call him soon after he was sworn in as the head of state. The secretary-general also expressed his desire to visit Pakistan at a convenient date. He had earlier visited Pakistan as an official of South Korea.

Mr Haroon said he had told the UN chief that Pakistan would continue to play a positive role at the UN.

Mr Haroon was accompanied by Farukh Amil, Pakistan’s deputy permanent representative. Mr Ban was assisted by his senior aides Lynn Pascoe, Vijay Nambiar and Kishore Mandani.