Q&A: Benazir Bhutto inquiry

A United Nations inquiry into the assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto is currently underway.

Scotland Yard's Bhutto investigation

What is the inquiry about?

The UN inquiry is an investigation into the assassination of Pakistan's former prime minister who died after wounds suffered during a gun and bomb attack at an political rally in the city of Rawalpindi in northern Pakistan on 27 December 2007. She was campaigning for re-election in forthcoming elections. It is intended to mirror a similar previous UN inquiry into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005.

What other inquiries have there been?

There has been one other inquiry conducted by police officers from the UK's Scotland Yard one month after the assassination. They were called in after then President Pervez Musharraf agreed to involve international agencies but vetoed UN intervention.

How does this inquiry differ?

The Scotland Yard inquiry was limited to how Ms Bhutto was killed, whereas her family and the present government want to find out who is responsible as well as how it happened. The UN inquiry will aim to answer all these and any other questions regarding her death.

What power does it actually have?

The inquiry has no real legal power. It cannot compel anyone to appear before it and its findings will not be legally binding. The inquiry intends "to appeal to anyone" who has knowledge of any hitherto unrevealed facts to come forward. It has the full backing of the government of Pakistan.

What questions remain unsolved?

The principal question is who was the person/people responsible for the plot which led to her assassination. It is clear from the basic evidence that at least two people were involved in the actual attack - the suicide bomber and the gunman. The first government investigation said that she died from a wound to the head caused by hitting it on the roof of the vehicle she was travelling in.

There are differing accounts of what caused Ms Bhutto's death

This was after the explosion. But footage obtained from a cell phone clearly showed her falling as she was shot by a lone gunman. Subsequently, the government put the blame on Taliban commander in Pakistan, Baitullah Mehsud. He has denied being involved in the assassination. Ms Bhutto herself had said she expected to be targeted by elements within Pakistan's state structure. Her party believes Pakistan's powerful security agencies - who have often been accused of being above the law - may have been involved.

What government/police investigations have taken place into the assassination?

There was a single investigation conducted by a joint team of Pakistan's security apparatus. It concluded that the assassination was carried out by militants loyal to Baitullah Mehsud and that the murder was carried out on his orders.

How will this enquiry do its work?

It will first collect all known details about the assassination. Its members will then visit Pakistan to interview witnesses and experts, and conduct an investigation on the ground. They are then expected to prepare and submit their findings.

Are they working with official agencies?

The inquiry is working at the request of Pakistan's current government, so is likely to be aided by all relevant government departments. However, it is unlikely that it will have access to the files of the country's intelligence agencies. It also seems likely that many former and current intelligence officials may refuse to testify before the commission.

What do we know so far of how the assassination happened?

Ms Bhutto was attacked as she was leaving a rally of her Pakistan People's Party (PPP) supporters in the garrison town of Rawalpindi.

She was standing upright in the her armoured vehicle, with her head exposed above the open roof escape hatch, waving to the crowd when an attacker opened fire.

Seconds later, a bomb was set off at the scene which left some 20 other people dead.

The exact cause of Ms Bhutto's death is disputed.