PTI

Islamabad, Jul 23: The investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto could cost Pakistan up to USD 100 million and take up to 14 months to complete, a media report said on Wednesday.

Pakistan has assured the United Nations it will provide all the money needed to investigate the assassination of Bhutto. The assurance was given by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi during a meeting with UN officials, Dawn newspaper has reported.

A probe commission would report to both the government of Pakistan and the UN secretary-general. Pakistan has not asked for involvement of UN Security Council in the investigation.

Bhutto was killed in a suicide attack after an election rally in Rawalpindi on December 27.

''There is no need to refer the request to the Security Council,'' Qureshi told reporters in Islamabad after his meeting with UN officials.

An investigation sought by the UN Security Council would have been funded by the world body. The investigation into the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Harriri has so far cost USD 350 million.