ISLAMABAD The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon would on Wednesday announce a three member commission for investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

The commission being set up on a request by the Pakistan government is likely to be headed by a South American. The other two members of the commission would be from Europe and Asia.

Pakistan would pay US$ 5 million as the seed money for the commission to the UN. However, the actual cost of the investigation would be much higher and would be shared by friendly countries.

Although, the cost of the probe is being kept a closely guarded secret, but it is believed that it would be in tens of millions of dollars.

The inquiry to be conducted under the auspices of the office of the secretary general would be completed within six months, according to the terms of reference of the commission.

Besides, it has been agreed between Pakistan and the UN that the report of the commission would be handed over to the government in its original shape.

The UN and Pakistan have already reached a broad understanding on unhindered access to all sources of relevant information, and elements to safeguard its objectivity, impartiality and independence.

It took the UN almost seven months to finalise the commission. The original request for the inquiry was made by Pakistan government in June for exposing through independent and impartial investigations the culprits behind the December 27 assassination of former Prime Minister Bhutto in a gun and bomb attack after a political rally in Rawalpindi.

Mr Moon would be reaching here on Wednesday on a one day visit where besides announcing the probe commission he would sign the One UN document, discuss the security of UN personnel in Pakistan, the country's progress towards the achievement of Millennium Development Goals and host of other regional and global issues in his talks with President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani.

The foreign office in a brief statement on his visit said 'Pakistan attaches great importance to the United Nations and highly values the visit by Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.'

The Secretary General is likely to express his concerns over the abduction of UNHCR official John Solecki in Quetta and killing of his driver. Mr Moon is expected to ask the government to secure immediate release of the abducted official.

Sources say the kidnapping of the UN official had dashed hopes of any improvement in the security rating. Islamabad and number of other cities in Pakistan are at Security Level 3 of UN's threat perception level.

The downgrading of the security level from Level 2 to Level 3 last year after the Marriott incident had serious implications for Pakistan in shape of departure of a number of foreigners.