NEW YORK Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Wednesday progress has been on Pakistans request to the UN for the investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

At a press conference he rejected suggestions that there was some deliberate complacency on part of Pakistan and the world body to hold an independent inquiry. He pointed out that the UN, which was a huge bureaucracy, has had to hold detailed consultations not only within the organization but also with some countries.

A formal request for UN investigation was made by the foreign minister to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in July of this year.  

Qureshi told reporters that the United Nations secretariat had written a letter to Pakistan government on the terms of reference for the appointment of the commission. The Pakistani mission in New York would respond to the United Nations.  

'Progress has been made and we hope the commission will soon be constituted,' he said, adding 'We have not been complacent on this important matter.'

Qureshi disclosed that some names for the membership of the proposed commission have also been thrown up and consultations in this regard were taking place.

Former Prime Minister and leader of Pakistan Peoples party was killed in a gun and suicide bomb attack on Dec. 27 as she left an election rally in the city of Rawalpindi. 

The findings of two investigations including one by Scotland Yard were seen as being tainted by the leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party.