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                        <title>The Express Tribune</title>
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			<title>Make the May 2 report public</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/403058/make-the-may-2-report-public</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/403058/make-the-may-2-report-public#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 03 Jul 12 19:50:05 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Point of setting up commission was to make public security, intelligence lapses leading to the raid, not to cover up.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The commission that was tasked with investigating the events leading up to the May 2 Abbottabad raid in which Osama bin Laden was killed, has decided not to make its report public. Instead, it will only release a summary of its findings. If it does keep the report secret, the commission will be guilty of shirking its duty. The point of setting up the commission was to make public the security and intelligence lapses that led to the Navy SEALS raid, not to cover them up. Citizens have a right to know how their government failed. Rather, it seems, the commission’s mere existence was meant to be enough to placate the public. Getting a chance to read through its findings was likely never a priority for a military that has, of late, employed a practice of keeping secrets from the very citizens it is meant to serve. Perhaps, one reason for the secrecy is that the OBL commission lost sight of its original mandate. Press reports suggest that it was far more interested in scapegoating civilians like former ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani, than investigating any wrongdoing on part of the establishment. It also showed little or no curiosity about trying to investigate how Osama bin Laden was able to come to Pakistan and find safe refuge here for so many years.

Then again, we shouldn’t be surprised that the commission’s report is being kept secret. In Pakistan, the point of commissions seems to be to ensure that nothing damaging is ever uncovered or revealed to the public. The Hamoodur Rehman commission report gathered dust for decades (till it was published by one newspaper after being leaked in India) while, more recently, the commission tasked with finding the killers of journalist Saleem Shahzad seemed more interested in exonerating the ISI than in pursuing the perpetrators. When the OBL commission missed its deadline of early May for wrapping up its work and the end of May for making its report public, one hoped that the delay meant it was still busy putting together all the pieces of Bin Laden’s presence in the country. Now, it is clear that the commission was only buying time in the hope that the people would forget why it existed in the first place. We urge to make public the report so we can try and learn from our mistakes.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad raid: Panel under pressure to keep report classified</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/401426/abbottabad-raid-panel-under-pressure-to-keep-report-classified</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/401426/abbottabad-raid-panel-under-pressure-to-keep-report-classified#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jun 12 23:12:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zia.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=401426</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[‘Powerful quarters’ trying to ensure the findings are not made public: sources.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The Abbottabad Commission – which has completed its findings on the May 2 raid – is facing pressure from “certain powerful quarters” to not make public its report — a document that can potentially raise critical questions about the role and competence of security agencies operating in the country.


The commission – probing the death of al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in a midnight raid by American commandos in Abbottabad on May 2 2011 – has been working on a report for more than a year now and has missed several deadlines for unveiling its findings.

The latest announcement by the commission said it would be making its report public by the end of May — a commitment that remains unfulfilled to date. Prior to that, the commission’s chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal told the media in Islamabad that the report would be out by the end of December 2011.

Insiders privy to the commission’s working told The Express Tribune on Thursday that there was immense pressure on the probe body for holding back its findings and it has been directed to keep the contents of the report classified.

An official said: “Certain powerful quarters want the commission to submit its report to the government without sharing it with media as announced by Justice Iqbal on more than one occasion”.

Meanwhile, officials said that even if the report is made public, there is a possibility that it would not contain anything that would implicate intelligence failures or security breaches.

“It is going to be a document that will be hiding more than revealing… Nothing new might come to the surface,” said one official. According to earlier reports, most politicians had called for holding somebody responsible for the failure of intelligence agencies in tracing down Bin Laden who lived undetected virtually in the backyard of a premier military training facility in Abbottabad.

Insiders added that it had been more than a month since the commission had last interacted with some government officials and since then there seems to have been no development.

A member of the commission had told The Express Tribune in early May that the drafting would take less than a month if it is done regularly. Almost two months have passed since then without any word on the progress of the report.

Last month, a member said that the commission wants to meet with then prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani before finalising its report but amid deliberations the Supreme Court disqualified him.

The commission had also sent a set of questions to President Asif Ali Zardari as head of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) some six months ago but never received an answer. Top leaders of almost all political parties had appeared before the commission from time to time to record their statements.

But the official added that the commission had ultimately decided to move ahead and finalise the report despite no meeting with Gilani or replies from the president.


(Read: Analysis - May Day, May Day!)

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad Commission: ‘No institution, individual held responsible’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/373019/abbottabad-commission-%e2%80%98no-institution-individual-held-responsible%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/373019/abbottabad-commission-%e2%80%98no-institution-individual-held-responsible%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 02 May 12 10:45:14 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zahid.gishkori]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=373019</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Commission to finalise report by May 21, will be submitted to Supreme Court, says spokesperson.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The Abbottabad Commission, probing the May 2 US raid which killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden last year, has said that no institution or individual has been held responsible in the report due to be submitted by the end of May.

The commission spokesperson, in an official statement, said that the media reports are based on surmises and conjectures which should be avoided.

“The report will be finalised on May 21 and will be submitted to Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry within a week... most probably this month,” a spokesperson of the commission told The Express Tribune.

The reasons for the delay in submission will also be made public, he added.]]>
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			<title>Analysis: May Day, May Day!</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/372833/analysis-may-day-may-day</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/372833/analysis-may-day-may-day#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 02 May 12 00:38:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[M Ziauddin]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=372833</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[After receiving ‘actionable intelligence’ it was logical for President Obama to take action without asking...]]>
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				<![CDATA[Hopefully, in keeping with the event’s first ignominious anniversary, the Abbottabad Commission would finalise and submit its report to the authorities by the end of this week.


It is already late by about four months. And hopefully it would answer some of the questions agitating the minds of this nation and the world. For example, did those whose responsibility it is to keep a strict watch on the clandestine traffic of uninvited foreign guests know that Osama bin Laden was “hiding” for the last five years openly only a few kilometres from Pakistan’s premier military academy? If not, why not?

Also, did he have a covert local support infrastructure which allowed him to live with his wives and a large brood of offspring all these years without any fear of being caught? If yes, who were the culprits? And how was it possible that not even the thana in-charge of the area in Abbottabad had felt suspicious enough of the goings-on in a house located in an unusually large compound to find out what was happening inside and who were the inhabitants?

Questions similar to these had perhaps rankled the US president before he took the decision that brought the OBL saga to a bloody end and ruptured, in the aftermath, decades-long close relationship between Pentagon and the GHQ.

When Barack Obama was still a presidential candidate in August 2007 he had warned Pakistan, saying “if we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won’t act, we will. I will not hesitate to use military force to take out terrorists who pose a direct threat to America.”

After receiving what perhaps he concluded to be ‘actionable intelligence’ and perhaps after having asked around the questions posed above and perhaps receiving no conclusive answers but suspecting that Rawalpindi ‘wont act’, if it had not acted so far, it was only logical for President Obama to take the action that he did on the fateful day without taking Islamabad into confidence.

Since then Rawalpindi has acted as if it is more interested in revisiting Pakistan-US relations rather than finding answers to the above questions.

According to newspaper reports, the Abbottabad Commission is likely also to include in its report the sequence of events from the commencement of operation to its completion and exit of its operational personnel from Pakistani territory, the precise conduct of the US raiding and the assassination operation at the OBL compound, and assess the responses of all concerned Pakistani civil, intelligence and military institutions and personnel including their leadership. But then there is no mystery about this aspect of the event. Within a matter of days everyone and his auntie knew how the US accomplished the entire raid and got its personnel back home safely and that it was not technically possible for Pakistan’s defence forces to detect the raid or mount a counterattack.

Between May 2011 and October that year, the debate in the country was focused on two horrendous defence debacles – the Osama raid and the Mehran base attack – that took place within a matter of a few days in the month of May. Instead of looking for the answers from within, those who matter tried to manipulate the entire discourse into a patriotic mumbo jumbo with the US as the main punching bag. As the argument was too thin to last for long, an international court jester was introduced into the narrative with his memogate – an out and out a sting operation. A story, too good to be true but carried the so-called officially-sanctified credibility as the former ISI chief General Pasha had vouched for its reliability. This turned the focus on a total non-issue – the poor Hussain Haqqani and his patriotic credentials. By January this year this story too got lost in its own contradictions but those who never say die have found a godsend in the Supreme Court’s short ruling in Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s contempt case. Now the national debate is focused on whether or not the PM stood disqualified. And to the utter disillusionment of democratic forces in the country the two mainstream national political parties – the PPP and the PML-N – after having wisely remained on the same side of the fence vis-à-vis the establishment all these nearly five years, once again find themselves on the opposite sides and locked into an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation creating the much-needed space for you-know-who to creep back to its former position of political predominance.

It would not have been lost on either the chief justice of Pakistan or the president of the country, or even the leader of the main opposition, that on Tuesday the Chief of the Army Staff General Kayani was pronouncing his words of wisdom – that the country’s development and welfare depended on functioning of state institutions within their constitutional limits – from a higher moral pedestal which his institution had lost with the ouster of Musharraf.

(Read: Tribune’s Gamechangers 2011: Osama bin Laden &amp; Seal team 6)

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Bin Laden’s ‘exploits’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/358683/bin-laden%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98exploits%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/358683/bin-laden%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98exploits%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 02 Apr 12 18:09:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=358683</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Commission needs to recognise that Osama’s presence in Pakistan represents a far greater violation of our sovereignty.]]>
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				<![CDATA[It has recently been revealed that before living in Abbottabad, Osama first moved to Peshawar in 2002 and then shifted to Swat and Haripur. This information comes from Osama’s widow Amal al Sadeh, who along with his other two widows and two daughters have been handed down 45-day imprisonment along with a fine of Rs10,000 each. The court ordered their detention for illegal residency and ordered their deportation as soon as possible.

Now that more information is available, the first question that needs to be answered is: how did bin Laden manage to spend nearly a decade in the country without being detected? The US still maintains that it has not found any smoking gun which would prove that Pakistani authorities knew of Osama’s presence in the country, but an absence of proof is not enough to let them off the hook. Even if the authorities, who in this case mean the military, were not complicit in hiding Osama, they were certainly negligent in their duties.

Investigating the intelligence failure posed by Osama’s presence in the country needs to be a top priority of the commission tasked with looking into the May 2 raid that killed the al Qaeda leader. So far, the commission has shown more interest in looking into American violations of Pakistan’s sovereignty and making scapegoats of officials like former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani, who had nothing to do with Osama’s presence in the country. The commission needs to recognise that Osama’s relatively comfortable sojourn in Pakistan represents a far greater violation of our own sovereignty than the Navy SEALS raid that killed him. Addressing this issue will also set the much-needed precedent (as well as show the rest of the world) that Pakistan’s civil and military establishment is serious about investigating just how the world’s most-wanted man lived undetected in Pakistan for so long.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Osama's children were born in Pakistan: Intelligence report</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/352078/osamas-children-were-born-in-pakistan-intelligence-report</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/352078/osamas-children-were-born-in-pakistan-intelligence-report#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Mar 12 11:03:08 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=352078</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Investigative reports say Bin Laden entered Pakistan along with his family through Afghanistan.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Investigative agencies submitted reports in the court of Senior Civil Judge Farrukh Arjumand regarding former al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s existence in Pakistan, Express News reported on Monday.

The report said that Bin Laden entered Pakistan along with his family through Afghanistan and resided in various areas of the country. However, no records could be found at any airport regarding his travels.

It further stated that Bin Laden’s children were born in Pakistan, yet no record was available with any hospital as apparently they were registered under fake names.

All those who supported Bin Laden in Pakistan have not been identified either, and the investigation is still under process the report stated.

Bin Laden’s family was taken into custody after US Navy Seals raided his compound in Abbottabad on May 2 and killed him.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission: Findings contradict US version, says report</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/350758/abbottabad-commission-findings-contradict-us-version-says-report</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/350758/abbottabad-commission-findings-contradict-us-version-says-report#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Mar 12 00:55:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[news.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=350758</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[BBC urdu report questions credibility of previous findings.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The findings of the  investigative report by a commission probing the May 2 US raid which killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad are different from the report given by US authorities, according to a report by BBC Urdu.


The report states that the commission has penned down the details of events that took place on the day the al Qaeda leader was killed in a unilateral raid by US Special Forces.

The findings of the report by the commission also pose questions regarding the stance of the US in the operation. The report is the first official account of the incident from Pakistan’s side and is often in contradiction with the findings of the US investigation. It includes statements from Bin Laden’s family, neighbours and government officials who came to the area after the US raid.

The commission members and experts, after investigating the compound where Bin Laden lived, derived some crucial findings. One of the points in the report states that the compound had dozens of armed men during the raid – however, only one bullet mark and one bullet shell was found.

The bullet mark was found on the wall of the room where the al Qaeda leader used to sleep, which was also where he was killed. The height of the mark suggests that someone had knelt down and taken a shot, according to the findings.

The investigation revealed that the bullet pierced through Bin Laden’s head and struck the wall leaving a mark there, the report claimed. Other than this mark, there is no other bullet mark in the entire house, nor was there any other bullet shell.

Half a dozen Kalashnikovs recovered from the house were less than a yard away from Bin Laden’s gunmen. The report also poses questions including:  when so many armed men were present in the house during the raid, why did Bin Laden’s men not fire even once — given that the findings revealed by the US state that none of the US soldiers were shot at during the raid.

The Abbottabad Commission will present the findings to the prime minister who will release orders as per the recommendations given in the report.


Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>May 2 raid: Findings of Abbottabad Commission differ from US account</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/350437/may-2-raid-findings-of-the-abbottabad-commission-differ-from-us-account</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/350437/may-2-raid-findings-of-the-abbottabad-commission-differ-from-us-account#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Mar 12 13:20:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=350437</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Report states compou­nd had dozens of armed men during raid, but only one bullet mark and one bullet shell found.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The findings of the  investigative report by Abbottabad commission probing the May 2 US raid were different from the report given by US authorities, reported BBC Urdu on Thursday.

According to the report, the commission has penned down the details of events that took place on the day when al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed in a unilateral raid by US Special Forces in Abbottabad.

The findings of the report by the Abbottabad commission also pose questions at the stance of the US in the operation.

The report is the first official account of the incident from Pakistan’s side.

The report entails statements from bin Laden's family, neighbours and government officials who came to the area after the raid.

The commission members and experts, after investigating the compound where bin Laden lived, derived some findings.

One of the points in the report states that the compound had dozens of armed men during the raid, however, only one bullet mark and one bullet shell was found.

The bullet mark was found on the wall of the room where the al Qaeda leader used to sleep, which was also where he was killed. The height of the mark suggests that someone had knelt down and triggered the bullet.

The investigation states that the bullet pierced through bin Laden’s head and struck the wall leaving a mark there.

Other than this mark, there is no other bullet mark in the entire house, neither any other bullet shell was found.

Half dozen Kalashnikovs which were recovered from the house were less than a yard away from bin Laden’s gunmen.

The report poses a question that when the so many armed men were present in the house during the raid, then why did bin Laden’s men not fire even once, because the findings given by the US state that none of the US solider was shot at during the raid.

The Abbottabad Commission will present the findings to the prime minister who will release orders as per the recommendations given in the report.]]>
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			<title>Demolition squad: Bin Laden compound becoming history</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/341955/demolition-squad-bin-laden-compound-becoming-history</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/341955/demolition-squad-bin-laden-compound-becoming-history#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 26 Feb 12 04:48:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[muhammad.sadaqat]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=341955</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Triple-storey house smashed in by bulldozers.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Authorities on Sunday continued tearing down the infamous compound of al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden where he was hunted down by US commandos in a top-secret raid in May last year.


A private construction firm was hired to bulldoze the structure following the green light from the judicial commission investigating the circumstances that led to the US Navy SEAL raid, official sources told The Express Tribune.

“Workers are expected to pull down the building by 3am,” said an official source, adding that heavy machinery had been moved to Bilal Town, the neighbourhood next to Pakistan Military Academy where the structure is located.

Soon after a visit to the mansion by the Abbottabad commission members, the belongings of the Bin Laden family were moved to an undisclosed location in anticipation of its demolition.

Sources said that security forces, who were standing guard at the compound, handed its control to the civil administration before its demolition started at around 8.30pm on Saturday.

Witnesses said troops blocked access to the compound, brought heavy machinery and barred journalists from taking pictures or coming close to the site. As workers started demolishing the structure in the glare of floodlights, local residents were asked to remain indoors till the structure was razed.

The triple-storey house, built over an area of 38,000 square feet and worth Rs85 million, has been under the control of the security forces and police since the May 2011 raid.

Two months ago, the authorities had detained the Danish ambassador, his wife and their security officer for visiting the area. During the last 10 months, more than eight Pakistani and foreign journalists were also detained for taking photographs of the compound.

“They should have razed it much earlier to spare us frequent questioning and surveillance,” said local resident Iqbal.

“The area people will now heave a sigh of relief,” added Tariq, another resident of Bilal Town. “At least the Bin Laden chapter is closed for us now.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Bin Laden's last hideout being demolished</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/341749/bin-ladens-last-hideout-being-demolished</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/341749/bin-ladens-last-hideout-being-demolished#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 25 Feb 12 17:43:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=341749</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Heavy machinery has rolled into Abbottabad and is busy demolishing the compound.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Heavy machinery has rolled into the garrison town of Abbottabad and was demolishing Osama bin Laden's last hideout.

Bin Laden had been assassinated by a team of US special forces, who stormed his residential compound in Abbottabad on May 2, 2011. Bin Laden was believed to have bunkered in the complex for close to five years.

Heavy machinery including the shovel s have been called into demolish the compound.

All routes leading up to the compound have been sealed. Media too has been directed to stay away.

The reason for demolishing the structure are as yet unknown.

In January, British newspaper The Sun had reported that Osama bin Laden’s hideout in Abbottabad, could be flattened by rocket-propelled grenades and then bulldozed.

The report stated: “Military chiefs in Pakistan plan a spectacular blitz in front of TV cameras to prevent the walled complex becoming a sick shrine to the al Qaeda terror master.”

The report further quoted Interior Minister Rehman Malik as saying: “We will hit it like an enemy fort. But first we must erase everything related to Bin Laden from our country.”

The report had claimed that the demolition will take place in February, a claim that seems to be coming true.

However, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) denied the report.]]>
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			<title>Rumour has it: ‘OBL’s Abbottabad hideout to be razed’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/319696/rumour-has-it-%e2%80%98obl%e2%80%99s-abbottabad-hideout-to-be-razed</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/319696/rumour-has-it-%e2%80%98obl%e2%80%99s-abbottabad-hideout-to-be-razed#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jan 12 05:03:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=319696</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The ISPR denies report­s of the Britis­h newspa­per.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Osama bin Laden’s hideout in Abbottabad, where he was shot dead by US Navy Seals, will be flattened by rocket-propelled grenades and then bulldozed, British newspaper The Sun reported on Tuesday.


The report stated: “Military chiefs in Pakistan plan a spectacular blitz in front of TV cameras to prevent the walled complex becoming a sick shrine to the al Qaeda terror master.”

The report further quoted Interior Minister Rehman Malik as saying: “We will hit it like an enemy fort. But first we must erase everything related to Bin Laden from our country.”

It further revealed that the demolition will take place next month. Chief military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas was quoted as saying: “US and European officials will be invited. It will be a big event.”

ISPR denial

However, a spokesman for  the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) denied the report. A statement clarified the remarks attributed to the director general regarding the demolition of Bin Laden’s residence.

The spokesman said that remarks in an article by Nick Parker published in The Sun on Tuesday are totally baseless. The spokesman added that the DG ISPR never spoke to any reporter of The Sun as quoted in the news report.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad Commission: Family planning coordinator quizzed</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/319115/abbottabad-commission-family-planning-coordinator-quizzed</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/319115/abbottabad-commission-family-planning-coordinator-quizzed#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 12 05:08:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=319115</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The meeting was held at the cabinet division under the chairmanship of Javed Iqbal, former senior judge of the SC.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The inquiry commission on the Abbottabad operation conducted detailed interviews on Monday of Khyber-Pakthunkhwa Coordinator for the National Programme on Family Planning and Primary Health Care Dr Ihsanullah Turabi, the Comprehensive Security Services (Pvt) Ltd Rawalpindi Incharge Bashir Chohan and Maj (retd) Aamir Aziz of Bilal Colony Abbottabad. 


The meeting was held at the cabinet division under the chairmanship of Javed Iqbal, former senior judge of the Supreme Court and the president of the commission. Lt Gen (retd) Nadeem Ahmed, member of the commission, also attended the meeting.

Earlier, sources said the commission was ‘likely’ to complete the probe by the end of January.

However, it has also been reported that compilation of the report is ‘complicated’ and may take longer than expected.

The commission has so far questioned over 100 witnesses, including military and security officials, former foreign secretaries and ministers, police and intelligence officials, former ambassador Husain Haqqani, Bin Laden’s family, neighbours, and media personnel in Islamabad and from Abbottabad.

(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Tribune’s Gamechangers 2011: Osama bin Laden &amp; Seal team 6</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/317584/tribune%e2%80%99s-gamechangers-2011-osama-bin-laden-seal-team-6</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/317584/tribune%e2%80%99s-gamechangers-2011-osama-bin-laden-seal-team-6#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 08 Jan 12 13:47:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=317584</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Hollywood has nothing on this.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[In what appears to be something out of a Hollywood movie script (and something Pakistan is still investigating), a team of United States (US) Seals – also known in some quarters as Seal Team 6 – flew into Pakistan on ‘stealth helicopters’ and raided a compound in the garrison city of Abbottabad to capture or kill the most wanted man of recent times, Osama bin Laden.

News of the late night raid started off with reports of a helicopter crashing in the city and later announcements from the US confirmed that their forces had flown into Pakistan without the knowledge of any local officials.

The incident left many baffled and at the same time opened up a Pandora’s Box of questions. What was Bin Laden doing in Pakistan? Who brought him here? Who was giving him protection? Was the military sleeping when the raid team entered our borders? Who was aware of this?

Not only did the raid expose Bin Laden’s presence in Pakistan, it also opened up a window into the life of the al Qaeda leader. Living inside the compound for many years, Bin Laden had reportedly gathered a porn collection at the compound. Much to be said about the man.

Quote: "Justice has been done" – President Obama]]>
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			<title>May 2 raid: Abbottabad panel report expected by month-end</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/316259/may-2-raid-abbottabad-panel-report-expected-by-month-end</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/316259/may-2-raid-abbottabad-panel-report-expected-by-month-end#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 12 04:49:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[sumera.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=316259</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The report will be given ‘final touches’ next week.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A meeting of the Abbottabad inquiry commission held on Tuesday chalked out a plan for submitting its final report to the government in coming weeks.


According to sources, the commission is likely to complete the probe into the May 2 raid in Abbottabad, which killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, by the end of January.

Once the inquiry and interrogation sessions end, the process of formulating the report may take another week, after which it finally will be presented to the government.

Sources added that next week a couple of meetings will be held for putting ‘final touches’ to the report.

Sources privy to the meetings that have taken place so far, said that the finalisation of the report is very complicated and may take more time than is anticipated.

They added that although the members agreed to make the content of the report public seeing that it is a matter of national security, it is ultimately the government’s decision. However, sources added, the government is unlikely to make the findings public.

Tuesday’s meeting was held in the cabinet division under the chairmanship of former senior judge of the Supreme Court justice Javed Iqbal. The commission held a detailed interactive session with prominent people, including Javed Chaudhry, Tahir Khalil, Tariq Chaudhry, Ikram Sehgal, Asif Bashir Chaudhry, Mushahid Hussain Syed, Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad and Kamran Ishtiaq.

The commission has so far questioned over 100 witnesses, including military and security officials, former foreign secretaries and ministers, police and intelligence officials, former ambassador Husain Haqqani, Bin Laden’s family, neighbours, and media personnel in Islamabad and from Abbottabad, in over 30 sessions.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>A question regarding May 2</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/315075/a-question-regarding-may-2</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/315075/a-question-regarding-may-2#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 01 Jan 12 19:08:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=315075</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Gilani 's remarks on OBL, in the mind of Chaudhry Nisar, was tantamount to a “charge sheet” against the military.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Leader of the opposition, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan of the PML-N, who has generally take a more pro-military and anti-American stance than his party leader Nawaz Sharif, has now decided it would be a good idea to blast Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani for his remarks wondering how Osama bin Laden was able to hide in Abbottabad for so long. That statement by Gilani, in the mind of Chaudhry Nisar, was tantamount to a “charge sheet” against the military and would provide further grist to the anti-Pakistan international community. It seems Chaudhry Nisar, a politician who is extremely interested in finding out who wrote the memo that landed on the desk of General Jim Jones and in how US Navy SEALS were able to enter Pakistani airspace, is far less curious about how Osama bin Laden led a comfortable life in our country for so long.

Joining him in that lack of interest is the Abbottabad commission that is investigating the May 2 capture of the al Qaeda leader. So far, the commission has focused its investigations on whether the US violated our sovereignty in the raid. The answer, as the commission has deduced and as anyone could have told it without the need for dozens of witnesses, is that yes our sovereignty was violated and that, in fact, the US had always maintained that it had little interest in such niceties if it would prevent them from capturing Osama bin Laden. The Abbottabad commission has also shown its keenness on investigating such ancillary matters as how many Americans did former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani issue visas to. But it has been completely silent on the not insignificant matter of Bin Laden’s presence in the country. The protestations of Chaudhry Nisar and the Abbottabad commission notwithstanding, the fact is that the prime minister has raised a powerful point. If our sovereignty is all that precious, why then is the military not the slightest bit outraged that Osama bin Laden was able to live in Pakistan without our knowledge? And does the military’s lack of interest actually mean something more sinister? No matter what the answer to that question, it means that the military and its intelligence agencies are either guilty of incompetence or tacit collusion. This more than anything else, including questions of sovereignty, is what should be investigated.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd,  2012.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission: Can't come to Pakistan due to poor health, says Shamsul Hasan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/314525/abbottabad-commission-cant-come-to-pakistan-due-to-poor-health-says-wajid</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/314525/abbottabad-commission-cant-come-to-pakistan-due-to-poor-health-says-wajid#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 31 Dec 11 06:46:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=314525</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Shamsul Hassan says his physic­ian has prescr­ibed him to avoid air travel.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Wajid Shamsul Hassan on Saturday refused to present himself in front of the Abbottabad commission due to his poor health.

Speaking to Express News in London, Shamsul Hasan said that his physician has prescribed him to avoid air travel.

However, Shamsul Hasan requested the commission to let him answer the questions over video conferencing.

The commission rejected his request and directed him to come to Pakistan.

The commission formed to probe the May 2 operation at the alleged compound of Osama bin Laden, had earlier summoned  Shamsul Hasan over statements he had made regarding the raid.

He was asked to appear before the panel by the end of December, however, no specific date was given for his interview.

An Indian TV channel had telecast an interview of Shamsul Hassan during which he had claimed that the Pakistan government was aware of the operation. He had said that Bin Laden’s presence in the area was known 10 days before the operation took place

Shamsul Hasan also did not attend the conference of Pakistani envoys in Islamabad.]]>
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			<title>Finger-pointing: PM’s ‘Osama sanctuary’ remark earns Nisar’s ire</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/314460/finger-pointing-pm%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98osama-sanctuary%e2%80%99-remark-earns-nisar%e2%80%99s-ire</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/314460/finger-pointing-pm%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98osama-sanctuary%e2%80%99-remark-earns-nisar%e2%80%99s-ire#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 31 Dec 11 00:06:53 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[qamar.zaman]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=314460</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Asks the premier to ‘explain the wisdom’ behind his statement.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[National Assembly proceedings turned into a grilling session on Friday with Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan lashing out at the prime minister for pointing fingers at defence authorities for Osama bin Laden’s presence in Pakistan.


Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s statement is a ‘charge sheet’ against defence authorities, Chaudhry Nisar said, and asked the premier to ‘explain the wisdom’ behind his statement. “This statement can be exploited by anyone on the international forum and in court,” he said.

Premier Gilani had said earlier that those questioning the government about the Memogate affair should first explain who had given a visa to Bin Laden, allowing him to enter and live in Pakistan.

The opposition leader, however, said his party would accept a clarification by the PM regarding the issue and suggested that the premier’s remarks be expunged from the record.

The incumbents have made the parliament “dysfunctional” because of their non-serious attitude, Chaudhry Nisar said, and asked the government to provide details for the ongoing power crisis. “The government should accept its failure and sack the ministers concerned,” he demanded, particularly censuring Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Dr Asim Hussain.

“We are asked to give [former PML-N leader] Javed Hashmi a prominent position, but what have you — the Pakistan Peoples Party [PPP] done? You have accommodated cronies [Dr Asim] who are not politicians and lack the people’s mandate,” he said.

“The absconding minister should appear before the house,” and the government should tell us what steps it has taken to overcome the energy shortfall otherwise there will be agitation, he warned.

Coming to the government’s rescue, Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khursheed Shah referred to a stay order issued by the court in 2009 due to which 300 million cubic feet of gas from Kunar was not added into the system.

He suggested that the opposition have “a special committee constituted” to probe the matter. Rejecting the offer, Chaudhry Nisar said, “There is no parallel in history for the number of special committees set up over the last four years. And yet, there has been no result because the government has not implemented the resolutions of the parliament.”

‘PPP or PML-N should come into power’

In an apparent shot at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), Shah said, “I pray that it’s either us or the opposition [PML-N] that comes into power, instead of those moving forward with the team of former military dictator Pervez Musharraf.”

A humble Chaudhry Nisar responded to Shah’s statement by saying, “We do not have the right to decide who should come into power. It is the right of the people to elect … even if it’s Musharraf’s cronies.”

Shah clarified his statement saying, “I meant that the opposition is a government in waiting”.

The house earlier passed the Carriage by Air Bill, 2011 under which a carrier is liable to compensate a passenger in case of death or injury due to the destruction of or damage caused to an airplane. The bill was moved by Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission: Former foreign minister, secretaries interviewed</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/310284/abbottabad-commission-former-foreign-minister-secretaries-interviewed</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/310284/abbottabad-commission-former-foreign-minister-secretaries-interviewed#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 11 04:21:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=310284</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who quit over Davis fiasco, among those quizzed.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The commission investigating the May 2 Abbottabad raid interviewed former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and three former foreign secretaries on Wednesday.

Headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Javed Iqbal, the commission held an interactive session with Qureshi who quit from his post, party and the National Assembly seat after reported differences with the Pakistan Peoples Party leadership over the Raymond Davis case.

Davis, a covert CIA operative, was arrested for killing two Pakistani citizens but was later released after paying blood money.

Little details emerged from the commission meeting that was held behind closed doors.

According to an official press statement, the commission also interviewed former foreign secretaries Inam ul Haq, Riaz Khokhar and Riaz M Khan, journalist and former envoy Dr Maleeha Lodhi, former bureaucrat Roedad Khan and defence analyst Lt Gen (retd) Talat Masood.

The commission has also summoned Pakistan’s ambassador to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hassan, by the end of this month. No specific date has been given for his interview though.

According to an official, the commission will meet again some time next week, but a schedule has not been announced yet.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22nd, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission hearing: I saved Pakistan from sanctions: Haqqani</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/309296/abbottabad-commission-no-one-in-pakistan-was-aware-about-may-2-raid-says-haqqani</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/309296/abbottabad-commission-no-one-in-pakistan-was-aware-about-may-2-raid-says-haqqani#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 20 Dec 11 12:21:24 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[irfan.ghauri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=309296</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Former envoy insists he did not issue unauthorised visas.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani, currently embroiled in the Memogate case, fought a second front on Tuesday as he faced a tough session with the Abbottabad commission.

The ex-ambassador, who was forced to resign last month over the memo scandal, used the opportunity with the commission probing the May 2 Osama bin Laden raid to present his case. He also pointed out, indignantly, that his services during a crucial period when the country was facing the threat of sanctions from both the US and UN had not been recognised.

Haqqani, referring to the time following the Osama bin Laden raid, said that the UN Security Council president at the time had issued a strong statement calling on all states to work together against terrorism, bring to justice its perpetrators, organisers and sponsors and hold those responsible accountable. The statement also welcomed the fact that “Osama bin Laden will never again be able to perpetrate such acts of terrorism”.

At this time, the former envoy emphasised, the mood in the US towards Pakistan was a hostile one. He added that US officials pointed to the Security Council president’s statement to justify unilateral action in Abbottabad, in disregard of Pakistan’s sovereignty.

‘My job was to prevent sanctions’

It was against this hostile backdrop, Haqqani said in his statement, that he was tasked to make amends and convey Pakistan’s concerns to the US, adding that his assignment was a “tough and thankless” one.

“As such, the task before the Pakistan embassy in Washington was to ensure that the negative mood in the US does not result in aggressive sanctions or restrictions on Pakistan by the US Congress,” his statement, which was later issued to the media, said.

The recently besieged former envoy, perhaps a little resentfully in the wake of omnipresent accusations, highlighted in detail his role in giving US politicians the Pakistani side of the story.

His statement added: “Over the next several days, I appeared on numerous US television and radio programs, addressed several think tanks and met with dozens of US Congressmen and Senators to give them the Pakistani perspective and to defend our institutions of state”. Specifically, Haqqani said, he was defending the institutions against charges of violating UN resolutions and providing sanctuary to the Al Qaeda leader or turning a blind eye to his presence in the country.

Allegations of issuing visas

Besides elaborating on his role in handling the delicate situation, Haqqani also had to answer some pressing questions presented by the commission. His statement addressed allegations that an ‘excessive’ amount of visas had been issued to Americans preceding the May 2 raid, specifically people associated with the Central Intelligence Agency.

Haqqani said that during his posting in Washington, the embassy had been conservative in issuing visas and at one point, (from April to June 2010) had held back issuing any official visas because clearance from Islamabad had not been received.

This  in turn had created a backlog and also resulted in a political issue with the US government, which was resolved by the prime minister authorising the ambassador some discretion in issuing visas vide his letter dated July 14 2010, he said.

He added however, that despite being granted this authorization, “the embassy continued to refer visa applications of US officials from military and allied branches to the respective security agencies”.

The former ambassador also said that statistics showed that the total number of visas issued from Washington for US officials did not increase in any dramatic way over the last few years.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad Commission: Haqqani to be quizzed about CIA visa reports</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/308630/abbottabad-commission-haqqani-to-be-quizzed-about-cia-visa-reports</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/308630/abbottabad-commission-haqqani-to-be-quizzed-about-cia-visa-reports#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Dec 11 04:43:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=308630</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The panel will also question Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on the May 2nd raid.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Former Pakistan ambassador Hussain Haqqani is set to face a tough grilling session by the Abbottabad Commission today for allegedly issuing several hundred visas to Americans linked to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) ahead of the May 2nd raid to kill al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

The commission, investigating the circumstances surrounding the killing of the terror group’s leader, will also be questioning Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

Awami National Party (ANP) President Asfandyar Wali Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Hamid Khan and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI)’s Professor Khurshid Ahmed appeared before the panel last week.

The panel, already in possession of the written response from Haqqani on allegations levelled against him, would question him in person for the first time since he resigned in the wake of the memogate scandal.

Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Kingdom (UK) Wajid Shamsul Hassan is also set to appear before the commission soon for his interviews with media outlets in which he asserted that the authorities in Islamabad had prior knowledge of the Abbottabad raid.

Haqqani could not be reached for comments as to the possible reply he will put up before the panel. However, according to his latest postings on social networking website Twitter as well as some of his friends, Haqqani would share ‘definitive’ documentary evidence with the team to support his stance on the matter.

“He has got all the evidence with him and he will share it with the panel members…he has nothing to hide or fear about it at all,” confided one of his associates who is also the leader of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

He has denied issuing any visas to Americans without prior knowledge of the foreign ministry or a clearance from the country’s intelligence agencies.

On the other hand, AML chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told The Express Tribune that he would also share with the commission ‘hardcore evidence’, suggesting that Abbottabad raid happened with the ‘go-ahead’ signal from top authorities in Islamabad.

“It will be evidence that is hard to refute. It will remove any confusion and bring facts to the surface,” Sheikh stressed without giving any details about the source of material he shall hand over to the body.

Sheikh added that he shall give a verbal briefing in addition to the written evidence.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission: As wrap-up begins, panel interviews politicians</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/306341/abbottabad-commission-as-wrap-up-begins-panel-interviews-politicians</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/306341/abbottabad-commission-as-wrap-up-begins-panel-interviews-politicians#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 11 04:08:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zia.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=306341</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PPP says party chief exempted from responding to inquiry body due to presidential immunity.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Not shying away from pulling the trigger on yet another controversy, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said on Tuesday that President Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairman of the party, is not obligated to respond to the questions sent to him by the Abbottabad Commission.


“It is optional, not binding, for the president to answer those queries,” PPP Information Secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira told The Express Tribune as the commission began interviewing politicians representing major political groups.

Headed by former Supreme Court Judge Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal, the commission investigating the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, said last week that it had sent a set of queries to the president in his capacity as the PPP chief.

However the ruling party has maintained all along that being head of the state, its chief was exempted from any legal procedures and no court or the commission could seek an explanation or ask any questions of him.

Kaira, however, said the party was still to hold an internal consultation on whether its co-chairman should respond to the commission’s queries and did not entirely rule out the possibility of Zardari getting back to them with answers.

He, however, clarified that the questions sent by the commission were meant for the chief of the party and not the president. “We will hold consultations within the party to think about it,” Kaira said.

However, he said he was unsure whether some other PPP member could represent the party chief before the panel.

On the other hand, a spokesperson for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said that MNA Khawaja Asif would appear before the commission to represent the party but its chief Nawaz Sharif might avoid direct appearance.

“Mian Sahib [Nawaz] will not go to the commission himself. Khawaja Asif will represent him,” Dr Asif Kirmani, spokesperson for the former premier, told The Express Tribune from Lahore.

Meanwhile, a handout statement issued by the commission’s secretariat said that leaders of the Awami National Party (ANP), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) were interviewed by the probe body.

ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan and Senator Afrasayab Khattak appeared before the commission and reportedly urged its members to come up with facts about not only the overnight raid by US commandos but also how Bin Laden managed to live in Pakistan for so many years, unnoticed.

JI vice chief Senator Professor Khursheed Ahmed and PTI leader Hamid Khan were also interviewed by the commission.

The commission had summoned Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani next week on December 19 to question him regarding the hundreds of visas that he issued to individuals allegedly linked to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

The commission will interview Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed the same day and has already summoned Pakistan’s High Commissioner in the UK Wajid Shamsul Hassan for the last week of December.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2011. ]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad panel to question envoy to UK</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/305442/abbottabad-commission-summons-pakistans-high-commissioner-to-uk</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/305442/abbottabad-commission-summons-pakistans-high-commissioner-to-uk#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 11 11:55:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=305442</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Wajid Hassan asked to explain statements that authorities were aware of US raid.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan’s high commissioner to the UK, Wajid Shamsul-Hassan, has been summoned by the Abbottabad commission, formed to probe the May 2 operation at the alleged compound of Osama bin Laden, over statements he had made regarding the raid.

In interviews with foreign media, the envoy did not rule out the possibility that Pakistani leadership, both civilian and military, might have been “aware beforehand” about the midnight operation in the garrison city, in which the US claimed it killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

An Indian TV channel telecast an interview of Wajid Shamsul Hassan during which he claimed that the Pakistan government was aware of the operation and further stated that Bin Laden’s presence in the area was known 10 days before the operation took place.

He has been asked to appear before the panel by the end of this month.

However, it is yet to be ascertained whether Shamsul Hassan, who, notably, did not attend an important conference of Pakistani envoys in Islamabad on Monday, will appear before the commission.

An alleged memo written after the raid to the then US military chief seeking American help to rein in the country’s powerful military created ripples in the country and cost former envoy in Washington Husain Haqqani his job.

Haqqani was also scheduled to appear before the commission on December 14.

An official associated with the commission told The Express Tribune that Haqqani has not confirmed whether he will appear before the panel yet, but is likely to give a final reply today (Tuesday).

The commission will also be meeting today (Tuesday) but the official said he was not aware of the agenda of this meeting.

Interestingly, in its official announcement, the commission did not mention a specific date on which it wants Ambassador Shamsul Hassan to appear before it. It only stated that he has been called to appear in the last week of December.

The official handout further said that during Monday’s hearing the commission held a detailed interactive session with eminent legal experts including Wasim Sajjad, Justice Nasira Iqbal and SM Zafar.

On Thursday, head of the Abbottabad Commission Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal in his first press conference since assuming charge claimed that the commission was hopeful to complete its task by end of December and would hand over its report to the government soon afterwards.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission: No cats let out of Justice Javed Iqbal’s bag</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/303906/abbottabad-commission-no-cats-let-out-of-justice-javed-iqbal%e2%80%99s-bag</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/303906/abbottabad-commission-no-cats-let-out-of-justice-javed-iqbal%e2%80%99s-bag#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 09 Dec 11 04:48:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[irfan.ghauri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=303906</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Panel head dodges questions, says his team will wrap up inquiry within ‘a couple of weeks’.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Local and international media converged on Islamabad on Thursday in anticipation of some startling revelations in the Abbottabad Commission’s investigations into the May 2 raid that killed Osama bin Laden.


Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal’s call for a press conference on Wednesday came amid rumours about the president resigning and a possible military coup, creating widespread panic and uncertainty in the country.

In an attempt not to give too much away, Justice Iqbal found himself dodging most of the questions thrown at him by the over-eager media.

The only cat he decided to let out of the bag was: the commission will complete its inquiry within a couple of weeks and submit its report to the government as soon as possible.

“We hope we’ll be able to complete the recording of the evidence by the end of December and will submit the report as soon as possible,” Justice Iqbal said during the press conference.

Staying in line with the general chaos in the country, the press conference on Thursday came at a time when investigations into the May 2 raid are still under way, causing many quarters to raise eyebrows at the purpose behind the commission head’s sudden call for a media briefing.

The commission will do its part, staying within its mandate, and submit the report to the government. However, whether or not the government makes that report public is up to them, Justice Iqbal said.

The commission has sent a questionnaire to President Asif Ali Zardari for his position as co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), however, being the head of state, he enjoys immunity under the inquiry commission’s laws, hence, whether or not he answers that questionnaire will be at his discretion, Justice Iqbal told the media.

Dodging a question thrown at him by a journalist inquiring whether the man killed in the raid was in fact Osama bin Laden, Justice Iqbal said, “If we told you that, it would give everything away.”

Things took a more interesting turn when a reporter told Justice Iqbal there was no need for him to tell the media anything about Bin Laden’s presence in Abbottabad because they already knew “everything there is to know” about it. “You don’t know anything. You will be shocked when you come to know,” Justice Iqbal snapped at the journalist.

The team is investigating whether Bin Laden had just stayed in Abbottabad or if he had stayed elsewhere in Pakistan as well, and is also looking into whether his killing was “legal” under international law, he said.

“As far as the international law is concerned, it is obvious that if he [OBL] was present there, he should have been caught alive,” he said, adding, “But the thing is, why did it happen like that? You will find all these answers in the report … regarding what the international law states and what our stance was and what is the US stand.”

Iqbal said the commission would like to examine the evidence collected from the compound by the US Navy SEALs, but it had not made a formal request so far.

“As far as the evidence is concerned, it’s in Arabic and according to US authorities, it may take more than six months to get it translated into English or some other language,” Justice Iqbal said.

The commission has completed its investigations concerning Bin Laden’s wives and children, who were left behind after the raid and the ban on their repatriation has also been lifted, he told the media.

The commission has also sent questionnaires to various political leaders and has summoned former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani to question him about how and why so many visas were issued to US nationals in the past few years.

To another question he confirmed that Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hassan could also be called in over his reported statements that Pakistani authorities, both civilian and military, knew about the raid in advance.

The press conference came to an anticlimactic end with Justice Iqbal saying, “Our job is to determine circumstantial evidence leading to the incident. We will not recommend any punishment if anybody or any institute is found guilty.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad Commission: Report to be completed by end of December</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/303498/abbottabad-commission-report-to-be-completed-by-end-of-december</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/303498/abbottabad-commission-report-to-be-completed-by-end-of-december#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 08 Dec 11 13:07:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zia.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=303498</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal says commission will recommend that government make the report public.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, head of the Abbottabbad Commission, said on Thursday that the investigation into the May 2 raid that killed former al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is expected to be completed by the end of December.

The head of the commission made the statement while speaking during a press conference at the Press Information Department (PID) in Islamabad. All five members of the commission were present at the briefing.

He said that the commission will recommend that the report be made public once it is released but it would be up to the government to make that decision.

The head of the commission said that investigations were still underway and that more than 100 people had given their statements till now. These include Bin Laden’s family, intelligence agency personnel, government officials and political parties.

He said that people should come forward if they have information regarding the May 2 raid and added that their statements will be kept secret and they would be protected.

Justice (retd) Iqbal said that a letter had been sent to President Asif Ali Zardari in the capacity of him being co-chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) asking him to answer the commission’s questions. He said if need be, the commission would also summon Pakistan High Commissioner in the United Kingdom (UK) Wajid Shamsul Hasan.

On Husain Haqqani and the Memogate scandal, the commission head said that they had nothing to do with the issue, but added that the former ambassador had already been summoned. He said the commission had asked Haqqani about the large number of visas that were issued through the embassy in Washington, if there had been any scrutiny and who they were issued to.

In response to a question on if it was actually Bin Laden who was killed at the compound, Justice (retd) Iqbal said that if they disclosed that fact right now there would be nothing left to tell.

The commission was formed to ascertain facts regarding Bin Laden’s presence in Pakistan, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the US operation, to determine the nature, background and the security lapse on part of the authorities, if any, and to make consequential recommendations.

______________________________________

[poll id="587"]]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission: Javed Iqbal calls ‘unusual’ press conference</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/303366/abbottabad-commission-javed-iqbal-calls-%e2%80%98unusual%e2%80%99-press-conference</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/303366/abbottabad-commission-javed-iqbal-calls-%e2%80%98unusual%e2%80%99-press-conference#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 08 Dec 11 04:44:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=303366</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Briefing comes amid reports that OBL’s family may be leaving for Saudi Arabia.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[As speculations regarding Osama bin Laden’s family leaving for Saudi Arabia circulate in the media, Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, head of the Abbottabbad Commission, has called for what is being termed an “unusual” press conference on Thursday (today).


It was not specified whether all members of the commission would accompany Justice (retd) Iqbal during the press conference that is scheduled for 3pm at the Press Information Department.

The commission which was formed by the government to probe the Abbottabad raid on May 2 that killed the former al Qaeda leader, has interviewed Bin Laden’s family several times over the past few months and had issued firm directives for authorities to bar the family from leaving the country without the commission’s permission.

All proceedings of the commission have so far taken place behind closed doors.

The government had promised that it would make all findings of the commission public after the probe was complete.

Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani was also scheduled to brief the panel on December 14, with the National Defence University president in attendance.

The commission was formed to ascertain facts regarding Bin Laden’s presence in Pakistan, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the US operation, to determine the nature, background and the security lapse on part of the authorities, if any, and to make consequential recommendations.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8th, 2011. ]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission summons Sheikh Rasheed</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/301695/abbottabad-commission-summons-sheikh-rasheed</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/301695/abbottabad-commission-summons-sheikh-rasheed#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 03 Dec 11 15:00:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=301695</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Sheikh Rasheed is due to appear before the commission on December 13.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Abbottabad commission has summoned former railways minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on December 13, Express News reported on Saturday.

The former railways minister has confirmed that he has been summoned by the commission and said that he will provide the investigation body with all the information he has.

The commission has been tasked to ascertain the facts regarding the presence of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. It has already conducted interviews of military officials including director general (DG) military operations and DG ISI.

The government had announced that it would make the commission’s report public. However, no time frame had been fixed for it to complete the inquiry.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad Commission: DG of Intelligence Bureau called back for questioning</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/300489/abbottabad-commission-dg-of-intelligence-bureau-called-back-for-questioning</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/300489/abbottabad-commission-dg-of-intelligence-bureau-called-back-for-questioning#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 11 04:52:00 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=300489</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The commission has also asked Husain Haqqani, former Pakistani ambassador to the US, to appear on December 14.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Abbottabad Commission has interviewed the Intelligence Bureau Director General Aftab Sultan for a second time.


The commission, headed by Justice Javed Iqbal, held a session behind closed doors on Wednesday. The panel also interviewed secretaries from the ministries of law and information, as well as an expert from the National Defence Academy and the chief census commissioner.

The commission has been tasked to ascertain the facts regarding the presence of Bin Laden in Pakistan. The chief of the ISI and other senior officials from intelligence agencies have already been interviewed by the commission.

Due to the session not being public, little is known about the exact nature of the meetings. However, sources said that the commission is cross-questioning the officials on the basis of statements provided by senior staff at security and civilian institutions.

The commission has also asked Husain Haqqani, former Pakistani ambassador to the US, to appear on December 14.

Javed Iqbal is a former senior judge of the Supreme Court and the president of the commission. Other members of the commission are Abbas Khan, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, and Nadeem Ahmed.

The government had announced that it would make the commission’s report public. However, no timeframe has been fixed for it to complete the inquiry.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission quizzes interior secretaries</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/286888/abbottabad-commission-quizzes-interior-secretaries</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/286888/abbottabad-commission-quizzes-interior-secretaries#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 03 Nov 11 04:54:49 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=286888</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Crosschecks with interviews of civil and military officials.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Abbottabad commission on Wednesday cross-questioned the interior secretary and his predecessor to verify the information provided by civil intelligence and law enforcement agencies regarding the May 2 incursion by American Seals which killed Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.


For the third consecutive day, the commission interviewed officials to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the raid. Interior Secretary Siddique-e-Akbar and his predecessor Qamar Zaman Chaudhry appeared before the commission and were cross-questioned on the basis of information provided by the chiefs of the Federal Investigation Agency, Intelligence Bureau and police officials. “Commission members want to crosscheck information provided by their subordinate agencies. They are also tallying this with information provided by various other officials including the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI),” an official associated with the Abbottabad commission told The Express Tribune, declining to disclose his identity on record. “The commission is investigating the incident from different angles. It is not a simple case,” the official said, declining to share details since all the proceedings were held in-camera.

The commission has been tasked to ascertain the facts regarding the presence of Bin Laden in Pakistan. It has already conducted interviews of military officials including director general (DG) military operations and DG ISI.

The government had announced that it would make the commission’s report public. However, no time frame had been fixed for it to complete the inquiry.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2011. ]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad Commission: Judicial panel interviews foreign NGO head</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/286409/abbottabad-commission-judicial-panel-interviews-foreign-ngo-head</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/286409/abbottabad-commission-judicial-panel-interviews-foreign-ngo-head#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 02 Nov 11 05:24:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=286409</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Panel due to meet today to question former and sitting interior secretaries.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The inquiry commission set up to investigate the May 2 US operation in Abbottabad interviewed on Tuesday the head of a foreign NGO to further probe the incident which left al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden dead.


Save the Children Country Director David Wright appeared before the commission for a detailed interview on Tuesday. The four-member commission headed by Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal holds its proceedings in-camera and releases only sketchy details to the media, such as the names of those being summoned or questioned.

The motive behind calling in the country director of Save the Children still hasn’t been ascertained by the media. However, it is believed that some members in the Pakistani security establishment have accused officials affiliated with international NGOs of carrying out undercover activities in the country. The commission has been given the mandate of summoning any person, civilian or military official, during the course of the investigation.

The commission earlier directed the government to institute a high treason case against a doctor who allegedly collaborated with American intelligence agencies in locating the world’s most wanted man in Abbottabad. Dr Shakeel Afridi, who is currently in the custody of security agencies, ran a fake polio vaccination drive on behalf of the CIA in a bid to obtain DNA samples of Bin Laden’s family in Abbottabad, months before the al Qaeda chief was killed.

During its proceedings on Tuesday, the commission also questioned Director Military Lands and Cantonment Department, Rawalpindi Region Farrukh Masood Khan and a local resident of Abbottabad, Sohaib Athar. The compound where OBL was allegedly found and killed is located in a cantonment area of the garrison city. The commission has already interviewed the chief executive of the cantonment department in Abbottabad.

The commission is due to meet again today (Wednesday) to likely interview incumbent Interior Secretary Siddique Akbar and his predecessor Qamar Zaman Chaudhry who held the position at the time of the operation.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad Commission: Air Force presents their side of the story</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/276655/abbottabad-commission-air-force-presents-their-side-of-the-story</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/276655/abbottabad-commission-air-force-presents-their-side-of-the-story#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 11 14:24:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=276655</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Ammunitions and ballistics experts from the military also presented their findings to the inquiry commission.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The inquiry commission on US operation in Abbottabad recorded statements of Director General Joint Staff Headquarters and Assistant Chief Air Staff, Air Headquarters, Express 24/7 reported on Tuesday.

The meeting of the commission was held at the Cabinet Division and was chaired by retired Justice Javed Iqbal.

Other members of the commission who attended the meeting were Abbas Khan, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi and retired General Nadeem.

Ammunitions and ballistics experts from the military also presented their findings on the May 2 incident in which al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed by US special forces in a raid on a compound in Abbottabad.

In earlier meetings, the judicial commission investigating the US raid interviewed DG Military Intelligence and IGP Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

(Read: “Abbottabad commission: Military Intelligence boss, K-P police chief quizzed”) 

As reported earlier, the inquiry commission also interviewed the widow of Abu Ahmed AlKuwaiti.

AlKuwaiti, who owned the compound in Abbottabad where Bin Laden was found, was the al Qaeda chief’s courier. His real name is said to be Arshad Khan and he was fatally shot during the May 2 raid in the garrison city.

(Read: “May 2 probe: Abbottabad panel interviews AlKuwaiti’s widow”)

AlKuwaiti’s wife was also injured during the operation. She was living with Bin Laden’s family and was taken into custody by intelligence agencies along with Bin Laden’s two wives and children.]]>
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			<title>Bin Laden raid: Abbottabad commission to probe courier’s widow</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/273612/bin-laden-raid-abbottabad-commission-to-probe-courier%e2%80%99s-widow</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/273612/bin-laden-raid-abbottabad-commission-to-probe-courier%e2%80%99s-widow#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Oct 11 04:07:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=273612</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Al Kuwaiti owned  the compound where the al Qaeda chief was killed.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The inquiry commission probing the Abbottabad operation  will on October 17 interview the widow of Abu Ahmed al Kuwaiti – Osama bin Laden’s purported courier and owner of the compound where the US conducted a unilateral raid earlier this year.

Al Kuwaiti, whose real name is said to be Arshad Khan, was killed during the US raid on the compound where Americans claim they spotted Bin Laden and killed him.

Khan’s family lived in the same compound, along with Bin Laden’s family, and was left behind by the US forces after the raid.  Both families were taken into custody by Pakistani intelligence agencies. Subsequent investigations revealed that the compound belonged to Khan who was also acting as Bin Laden’s courier.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the commission conducted exhaustive interviews of the adjutant-general General Headquarters, Rawalpindi and former and sitting home secretaries of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

In a meeting of the commission chaired by its head Justice Javed Iqbal, the adjutant-general explained the role and functions of his organisation, its charter of duties and its mandate, including his perspective on the Abbottabad operation.

(With additional input from APP)

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission: Military Intelligence boss, K-P police chief quizzed</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/272988/abbottabad-commission-military-intelligence-boss-k-p-police-chief-quizzed</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/272988/abbottabad-commission-military-intelligence-boss-k-p-police-chief-quizzed#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 11 04:22:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=272988</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Statements of home secretary K-P and adjutant general GHQ to be recorded.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The judicial commission investigating the May 2 raid by US commandos in Abbottabad interviewed the director general of Military Intelligence (MI) and Inspector General of Police Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday to record their perspectives on the operation that killed the al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

The commission on Wednesday interviewed the government officials at the Cabinet Division which is being used as its secretariat and conducted what it called ‘exhaustive’ interviews of the DG MI Maj-Gen Nadeem Ijaz and IGP K-P.

The commission, headed by Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal and comprising Abbas Khan, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi and Lt-Gen (retd) Nadeem Ahmed will meet again today (Thursday) and record statements of Home Secretary K-P and Adjutant General GHQ, Rawalpindi.

The commission has been holding meetings on a regular basis to probe the US operation which Pakistani authorities claim was a unilateral action carried out without the consent of the government or military and also that they were oblivious to Bin Laden’s presence in Abbottabad.

Additionally, the commission also said that a doctor, Dr Shakil Afridi, who helped the CIA track the al Qaeda chief, should be put on trial for high treason. The commission has visited the Osama compound and interviewed a number of high officials, including the chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and also family members of the slain al Qaeda chief. It also carried out detailed examination/inspection of recovered items and material evidence from the OBL compound.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>US operation probe: Abbottabad commission interviews acting IB, FIA chiefs</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/271654/abbottabad-commission-officials-record-statements</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/271654/abbottabad-commission-officials-record-statements#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 11 05:02:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=271654</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Commission also interviews Bin Laden’s family members who were left behind after the operation.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The inquiry commission, formed to probe the May 2 US operation in Abbottabad, has completed interviews of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary and acting directors general of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The commission met on Tuesday, with former senior judge of the Supreme Court Justice Javed Iqbal in the chair, to question the officials on their perspective over what Pakistani authorities claimed was a unilateral operation by the US.

Constituted almost a month since the covert operation that killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, the commission has already interviewed officials of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), including its chief Lt Gen Shuja Pasha, as well as officials of the Pakistan Air Force.

The commission has also interviewed Bin Laden’s family members who were left behind after the operation and lifted the bar on their travel.

On the recommendation of the commission, authorities have registered a high treason case against a doctor who had allegedly collaborated with US intelligence agencies in locating Bin Laden in his compound, where he was eventually killed by the special American forces on May 2.

Another important meeting of the commission will be held on Wednesday (today) to record the statements of the director general MI and the K-P Inspector General Police.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission: ‘CIA doctor’ faces treason charge</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/268392/pakistan-doctor-faces-treason-case-over-sharing-bin-laden-information</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/268392/pakistan-doctor-faces-treason-case-over-sharing-bin-laden-information#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 11 18:33:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[irfan.ghauri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=268392</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Inquiry commission lifts travel curbs on Bin Laden family.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Abbottabad commission investigating the May 2 US raid that killed Osama bin Laden directed the government on Thursday to institute a high treason case against a doctor who allegedly collaborated with American intelligence agencies in locating the world’s most wanted man in Abbottabad, and also lifted travel restrictions on the al Qaeda chief’s family.

Dr Shakeel Afridi, a public servant of the health department of Fata, is accused of running a fictitious test campaign in Abbottabad in order to conclusively determine the biological kinship of Osama’s children to confirm his presence in the compound.

It was widely reported that the US had been lobbying for his release, which included a call from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to President Asif Ali Zardari. According to media reports, the president turned down the request.

“In view of the record and evidence … the commission is of the view that prima facie, a case of conspiracy against the state of Pakistan and high treason is made out against him,” said the statement.

“A case under relevant law should be registered.”

In regards to Osama’s family – in Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) custody since the operation – the commission lifted travel restrictions after recording their statements. The ISI had taken custody of Bin Laden’s widows, two Saudis and one Yemeni, and around 10 of their children after the May 2 operation and the commission had barred authorities from handing them over to any other country without its permission.

(Read: Abbottabad commission questions Bin Laden widows, daughters)

During the past few days, the commission also summoned ISI officials, including its chief Lt Gen Shuja Pasha. The commission said that it conducted “an exhaustive interview” of Pasha to understand his views.

Chairman of the commission Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal also ordered the handing over of the Osama compound to the district administration “for disposal in accordance with relevant law.”

The compound where Osama and his family lived, some reports suggesting for around 5 years, was sealed by military authorities. According to records, it was owned by a man registered with an address of a city in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa but investigations revealed he used a fake identity card.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission questions Bin Laden widows, daughters</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/267472/abbottabad-commission-questions-bin-laden-widows-daughters</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/267472/abbottabad-commission-questions-bin-laden-widows-daughters#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 11 14:28:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=267472</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan took custody of Bin Laden's widows after the May 2 US raid.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The commission investigating the May 2 US raid in Abbottabad has interviewed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s widows and daughters for the first time, it said Wednesday.

The "exhaustive interview" of Bin Laden's three widows and two of his daughters took place on Tuesday, the commission announced in a brief statement.

Officials refused to divulge any further details.

Pakistan took custody of Bin Laden's widows, two Saudis and one Yemeni, and around 10 of their children, after US Navy SEALs killed him and flew off with his body from Abbottabad.

The incident plunged US-Pakistani relations into crisis.

Initial efforts to repatriate the women and children ran aground when the commission in July ordered them to remain in Pakistan until further notice, indicating that it wanted to question them in relation to its inquiries.

The commission also interviewed the head of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, Ahmad Shuja Pasha, on Wednesday and would question him again on Thursday, it said.

(Read: “Bin Laden raid: ISI officials brief Abbottabad commission on US raid”)

Questioning of a serving ISI chief by a civilian panel is extremely rare Pakistan where military intelligence is both feared and respected in equal measures and where the power of the army outstrips that of civilian leaders.

The discovery that Bin Laden lived in Abbottabad, seemingly for five years, and the unilateral American raid have been described by critics as the military's worst disaster since Bangladesh separated from the country in 1971.

On Tuesday, members of the commission interviewed Doctor Shakil Afridi, a government surgeon who is being questioned over a free vaccination campaign he reportedly launched in March-April in the bin Laden’s neighbourhood.

Security officials in the area believe the doctor may have known about bin Laden's presence and shared the information with US intelligence agents.

The commission has the power to summon military and civilian leaders.

The commission is tasked with investigating the "full facts" regarding Bin Laden's presence in Pakistan, the circumstances of the American raid that killed him and the lapses "if any" of Pakistani authorities.]]>
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			<title>Bin Laden raid: ISI officials brief Abbottabad commission on US raid</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/266261/bin-laden-raid-isi-officials-brief-abbottabad-commission-on-us-raid</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/266261/bin-laden-raid-isi-officials-brief-abbottabad-commission-on-us-raid#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 11 04:36:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[irfan.ghauri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=266261</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Spy agency reiterates claims of being kept in the dark about May 2 operation.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The commission investigating the May 2 US raid in Abbottabad recorded statements of ISI officials on Monday who reiterated claims that the US had conducted the raid unilaterally without the consent of Pakistani authorities.

“The operation was conducted by US authorities without keeping Pakistan on board,” the ISI team was quoted as telling the commission members.

ISI officials briefed the commission about investigations it had carried out into the raid by a team of US Navy SEALs that had killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

“The (ISI) interrogation team gave a detailed briefing and explained their perspective of the US operation in Abbottabad.

The briefing included background information and post-operation investigation findings,” said an official statement issued after the meeting.

The commission had barred at least two of Bin Laden’s wives and several children from leaving the country. They are in the custody of Pakistani agencies since.

The commission’s chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal will continue recording statements of ISI officials till October 6.

The meeting was attended by the commission members, including Abbas Khan, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi and Lt-Gen (retd) Nadeem Ahmed.

The terms of reference of the Abbottabad commission are to ascertain the facts surrounding Bin Laden’s undetected presence in Pakistan for almost five years, the circumstances and facts of the US operation, to investigate any security lapses that may have occurred on May 2 and lastly to make consequential recommendations based on the commission’s findings.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission: Justice Javed Iqbal says no pressure on members</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/253512/abbottabad-commission-justice-javed-iqbal-says-no-pressure-on-members</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/253512/abbottabad-commission-justice-javed-iqbal-says-no-pressure-on-members#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Sep 11 04:35:05 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[muhammad.sadaqat]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=253512</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Body completes three-day stay in the garrison city.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Members of the Abbottabad commission are not under any pressure and the commission is fully empowered, head of the panel Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal said on Thursday.


He was speaking to reporters at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House on the conclusion of the commission’s three-day visit to Abbottabad on Thursday.

The commission is looking into the lengthy presence of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan and the May 2 US incursion in which he was killed.

“Anybody detained for investigation into the May 2 episode, including Dr Shakeel Afridi, would not be extradited to the United States, because the Abbottabad operation is not an ordinary issue…(it is) a very important matter,” he firmly said, adding that the episode had shocked the entire nation and triggered the clamour for a powerful commission to compile a report aimed at protecting the country’s sovereignty.

He said that the formation of the commission was in line with the aspirations of the people of Pakistan, and following the completion of the commission’s report, nothing would be concealed from the nation.

Criticising some broadcast media hosts and news anchorpersons, Justice (retd) Iqbal said that although a barrage of propaganda had been unleashed soon after the US operation, none of the television hosts had turned up before the commission to record statements. “The commission had the expectation from the general public and media but they have disappointingly avoided recording their evidence,” he said.

Urging journalists and citizens to come forward and record their statements without any fear and assuring of confidentiality, he said that the names of people recording their statements would be kept secret.

The commission, he said, had completed 33 per cent of its work, but would again visit Abbottabad before finalising its report.

Insisting that the commission was not under any pressure from any quarter, Justce Iqbal said that the panel had also not been approached by anyone.

Without giving a precise timeframe, Justice Iqbal said that the inquiry process might be delayed “a bit”.

The commission was working in accordance with its mandate and its working area and powers were not limited, he said.

Justice Iqbal said that the commission had made some “very strong findings” during its visit to Abbottabad, adding that its final report would be based on those findings.

He said that it would be premature to say about the presence or otherwise of al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad.

He also rejected the notion that Americans had set up a 100-acre air base in the Tarbela-Ghazi area, adding that the commission had paid a detailed visit to the Army Aviation Base in Tarbela but found no trace of such a tract. He said that all institutions, including Pakistan Air Force, were vigilant.

He praised all government departments for their cooperation in collecting evidence and statements.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>May 2 raid: Abbottabad commission records statements of officials</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/252657/may-2-raid-abbottabad-commission-records-statements-of-officials</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/252657/may-2-raid-abbottabad-commission-records-statements-of-officials#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Sep 11 05:02:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=252657</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The commission will record statements of 500 people.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Abbottabad judicial commission continued its investigation into the May 2 US incursion and recorded statements of officials of various government departments and two army officers.

The commission was on a three-day visit to Abbottabad and was residing at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House.

Members of the commission earlier visited the compound of the house where Osama bin Laden lived, Tarbela air base, Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul and the Kundar village in Torghar district, formerly known as Kala Dhaka.

Headed by Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, the commission comprises Lt-Gen (retd) Nadeem Ahmed, former police inspector-general (IG) Abbas Khan and former ambassador to the US Ashraf Jehangir Qazi.

The judicial commission recorded the statements of the regional manager of the Sui Northern Gas Naseer Feroz, Abbottabad District Officer (Revenue) Fareed Khan, SSP (investigation wing) Mian Raza Kakakhel, Torghar Administrator Abdul Ghafoor, Hazara police DIG Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan, PTCL General Manager Muhammad Usman and Col Khalid and Col Arshad of Pakistan Army, certain officials of the Khasadar force and civilian eyewitnesses of Torghar district.

The inquiry commission will record statements of 500 people who have voluntarily expressed interest in recording their statements pertaining to the May 2 US midnight raid in Abbottabad.

On Tuesday, chief of the judicial commission Justice (retd) Iqbal said that investigation into the incident was the second most important in Pakistan’s history after the 1971 debacle entrusted to the Hamoodur Rehman Commission and vowed to make its findings public.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th,  2011.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad Commission: Probe findings to be made public, says Justice Javed</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/251926/probe-findings-to-be-made-public-justice-javed</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/251926/probe-findings-to-be-made-public-justice-javed#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Sep 11 05:02:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[muhammad.sadaqat]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=251926</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Judicial commission visits Bin Laden’s compound.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Chief of the Abbottabad judicial commission Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal has said that investigation into the May 2 incursion by US navy SEALs which killed Osama bin Laden was the second most important in Pakistan’s history after the 1971 debacle entrusted to the Hamoodur Rehman Commission and vowed to disclose its findings.


In a brief interaction with the media at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House on Tuesday evening, he said the commission was investigating the May 2 episode from every angle and would compile a detailed report based on its findings, but he did not rule out ‘procedural delays’.

Over the next two days, the members will record statements from people who may have information on the midnight raid. He urged people to come forward to give evidence.

On the first day, Justice Iqbal confirmed the commission members visited the Army Aviation Base, Tarbela, which reportedly monitors all the air traffic en route to Hazara division, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.

He said they had also been to Kundar in Torghar district, the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, and OBL’s compound. The commission inspected the exact location in Torghar where US military helicopters were reportedly stationed during the operation, according to sources.

He refused to answer journalists’ questions and explained that he had decided to share the first day’s engagements only because they had been waiting for several hours. “I am not in favour of issuing statements.”

According to details pieced together from various sources, Base Commander Col Hamid Bashir briefed the members on the operational capacities and the radar system and other technologies used for aerial operations and air traffic at Tarbela base.

The members questioned Col Bashir on the radars’ failure to detect the American helicopters on May 2 and visited the radar room. They flew to Abbottabad where they examined Bin Laden’s three-storey mansion for over two hours and gathered evidence. The commission tried to speak to neighbours, but male members were not home and women did not volunteer to share information.

The commission is mandated to probe how Bin Laden’s presence in Pakistan went undetected, investigate circumstances surrounding the 40-minute US covert operation that targeted him as well as the nature and causes of lapses by the concerned authorities before finalising its recommendations.

The ten-member commission comprises some well-known officers, including former inspector general police Abbas Khan, former ambassador to US Ashraf Jehangir Qazi and Lt Gen. (retd) Nadeem Ahmed. During the three-day visit to Hazara, it will interview government officials, including those from the police, intelligence agencies and the revenue department, army aviation personnel and journalists. The commission has already received 500 applications from volunteers.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14th,  2011.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission meeting: ‘US, Afghanistan never considered a direct threat’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/236186/abbottabad-commission-meeting-%e2%80%98us-afghanistan-never-considered-a-direct-threat%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/236186/abbottabad-commission-meeting-%e2%80%98us-afghanistan-never-considered-a-direct-threat%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 21 Aug 11 05:42:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=236186</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[‘All civilian, military institutions were oblivious to the May 2 incident’.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[None of the Pakistani civilian or military institutions ever considered the US or Afghanistan a direct threat to the country and thus, remained oblivious to the covert US operation in Abbottabad on May 2 that killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.


During the fourth meeting of the inquiry commission probing the incident, Defence Secretary Lt-Gen (retd) Syed Athar Ali provided a detailed statement explaining the salient features of Pakistan’s defence policy.

“He apprised the commission that none of the government departments including the ministry of defence, the Joint Staff Headquarters or any military service ever considered the US or Afghanistan a direct threat,” said an official handout issued after the meeting.

The secretary further said that the country’s defence policy is formulated on the basis of a policy approved by the defence committee of the cabinet, headed by the prime minister.

He explained that the defence policy directs the Joint Staff Headquarters (JSHQ) to formulate a Joint Strategic Directive (JSD). The JSD was issued in 2007 following an extensive debate within the armed forces and acts as the main document for everything, including composition, structuring, development plans, training, methodology, employment strategy, and so on. The JSD also issues specific instructions to the armed forces to prepare for countering an identified threat.

The secretary further apprised the commission that the May 2 incident has left a very deep imprint on the entire nation, the armed forces in particular. He said that the armed forces are now better prepared to respond to any such threat.

The defence secretary also explained that unlike an undefended civilian compound, our strategic assets are well protected and an elaborate defensive mechanism is in place.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21st, 2011.]]>
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			<title>DG ISI's absence results in Abbottabad Commission session delay</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/221861/dg-isis-absence-results-in-abbottabad-commission-session-delay</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/221861/dg-isis-absence-results-in-abbottabad-commission-session-delay#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Aug 11 09:40:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=221861</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[DG ISI was due to brief the judicial commission about the proceedings in the case.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The meeting of the Judicial Commission probing the May 2 US raid in Abbottabad which was scheduled today in Islamabad has been postponed due to the unavailability of Director General (DG) Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) General Shuja Pasha, Express 24/7 reported Monday.

DG ISI was due to brief the judicial commission about the proceedings in the case.

In the previous session, Director General Military Operation Major General Ashfaq Nadeem had brief the commission on the Abbottabad raid.

The judicial commission had directed the interior ministry and the intelligence agencies to withhold the repatriation of bin Laden’s family and that it should not be done without the commission’s consent.

The formation of this commission was proposed in a unanimous resolution passed by the joint session of parliament on May 13 earlier this year.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission to summon DG ISI</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/219161/abbottabad-commission-to-summon-dg-isi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/219161/abbottabad-commission-to-summon-dg-isi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jul 11 10:42:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=219161</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha to brief the commission on Abbottabad raid, says Justice Javed Iqbal.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The commission empowered to probe the May 2 incident in Abbottabad will summon Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) during the upcoming week for questioning, Express 24/7 reported on Thursday.

Chairman of the commission, Justice Javed Iqbal said Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha will brief the commission on the Abbottabad raid. He was speaking to Express 24/7 at a full court reference in the Supreme Court in his honour.

(Read: Abbottabad debacle: Chaudhry Shujaat says commission ‘unnecessary’)

Earlier, General (retired) Nadeem Ahmed, a member of the commission, had said he did not believe that Pakistan’s intelligence services or its military helped shelter Osama bin Laden. Ahmed’s statements immediately drew criticism from commentators who questioned his impartiality and suggested his comments threaten the integrity of the commission.

(Read: Abbottabad commission: ‘Findings might take time to be revealed’)

Justice Javed Iqbal has, however, given his assurance that opinions of commission members will not influence the probe.

Chairperson of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Asma Jahangir has also expressed hope that Justice Javed Iqbal would remain cautious against “elements” trying to hinder the inquiry.

‘Law supreme in democratic system’

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry says the law is always supreme in a democratic system against exercise of arbitrary capricious authority by any institution or its functionary.

The chief justice, who was addressing the full court reference, said the rule of law ensures stability in the society and helps build an institutional system.

He said that the use of arbitrary power is considered an anathema to the rule of law.

The chief justice emphasized on furnishing of level playing field to all state institutions and their functionaries to perform for the greater good of the masses.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad debacle: Chaudhry Shujaat says commission ‘unnecessary’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/218987/abbottabad-debacle-chaudhry-shujaat-says-commission-%e2%80%98unnecessary%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/218987/abbottabad-debacle-chaudhry-shujaat-says-commission-%e2%80%98unnecessary%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jul 11 04:36:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=218987</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Asserts it should be closed in the interest of ‘national security’.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[While condemning the severe criticism the Pakistan Army had to face for its role in the Abbottabad commission, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said the commission was “unnecessary” and was formed under “immense pressure and haste”.


“That is why I pinpointed this issue at a very early
stage that it would be unnecessary to make this commission and now it seems that there is more loss than gain in this deal,” said Hussain in a statement released on Wednesday.

“As work done in haste always ends up in waste.”

The PML-Q president said that the investigation should have taken place under the direct supervision of the chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC).

He asserted that the report of the findings should
have been presented directly to parliament and the cabinet.

He termed it “unfortunate and highly irresponsible” that the findings were made public on various media sources while the investigation was still underway by the commission.

Hussain insisted that “in the larger interest of national security” there should be no hesitation in closing the commission. Press Release 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>US supports Abbottabad probe commission</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/216425/us-supports-abbottabad-probe-commission</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/216425/us-supports-abbottabad-probe-commission#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 24 Jul 11 06:29:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=216425</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The embassy spokesperson also rejected media reports on US opposing the commission from bringing the facts to public.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The American government has supported Abbottabad commission to probe in full and bring unseen facts before public.

The American government backed the commission in a statement issued by its embassy in Islamabad.

The statement said that the US respects freedom of the Abbottabad commission and understands justice can only be brought through transperancy.

The embassy spokesperson also rejected media reports on US opposing the commission from bringing the facts to public.]]>
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			<title>Inquiry Commission: US opposes disclosure of Abbottabad findings</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/215635/inquiry-commission-us-opposes-disclosure-of-abbottabad-findings</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/215635/inquiry-commission-us-opposes-disclosure-of-abbottabad-findings#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jul 11 23:20:12 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[kamran.yousaf]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=215635</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Opposition stems from fears that conclusions of the commission may compromise future CIA operations in Pakistan.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The United States is pushing Pakistan not to make public the findings of a high-powered commission investigating the circumstances surrounding the presence and death of al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in his Abbottabad compound on May 2.


The US opposition stems from its fears that the conclusions of the Abbottabad Commission may compromise the future operations of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Pakistan and its ‘local assets,’ said government officials familiar with the development.

“The US was in fact strongly against the very idea of any commission to investigate the Abbottabad incident,” said a security official, who chose to stay anonymous.

The high-level judicial commission headed by the senior most judge of the Supreme Court after the chief justice was formed following a national outcry over the failure of the country’s powerful security establishment to detect both the al Qaeda leader and the US midnight raid.

Officials acknowledged that making the outcome of the Abbottabad Commission’s probe public will be embarrassing for the security establishment but might provide classified details about how the CIA penetrated deep into Pakistan.

“It was an intelligence failure … let me put it this way, it was the mother of all intelligence failures,” said an intelligence official.

He said the security apparatus might not object to the Abbottabad Commission’s findings as ‘a lot has already been said about our failures, so we have nothing to fear.’

“What people don’t know at this moment is how the CIA operates in this country … what tools they use, what tactics they employ,” he added.

He said the findings of the commission might provide answers to all these ‘chilling questions.’

‘CIA informants’ held

Intelligence agencies have been collecting evidence and all the relevant details that could provide leads on how the world’s most recognised face managed to live undetected in a garrison town for so long, said another official.

“The arrest of several local people who were working for the CIA is also helpful in finding the unanswered questions,” the official revealed.

The ‘CIA informants’ were held in a nationwide crackdown in the wake of the Bin Laden debacle.

Amongst these ‘informants’ were Dr Shakeel Afridi, who launched a fake polio vaccination drive in Abbottabad on behalf of the CIA to get the DNA samples of the Bin Laden family.

His arrest has become a thorn in the already tense relations between Pakistan and the United States.

“The security agencies will certainly share all this information being gleaned from the CIA informants,” the official said.

This is one of the main reasons that the US is objecting to making public the findings of the commission, he said.

Meanwhile, the Abbottabad Commission is also planning to ask the US officials to explain their position on the controversy.

Lt General (retd) Nadeem Ahmed, a member of the commission, recently said in an interview that the commission is planning on trying to get testimonies from US officials, and added that if no one testified, the panel would note their refusals in its record.

A US diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity ruled out the possibility of American officials testifying before the Abbottabad commission.

When approached, US Embassy spokesperson Courtney Beale denied that the US had communicated any sort of opposition to the commission and/or making its report public. She, however, refused to comment on whether the US was opposed to making the findings public.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23rd, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission: ‘Findings might take time to be revealed’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/214736/abbottabad-commission-%e2%80%98findings-might-take-time-to-be-revealed%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/214736/abbottabad-commission-%e2%80%98findings-might-take-time-to-be-revealed%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jul 11 05:23:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[maha.mussadaq]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=214736</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Commission member says Justice Iqbal reserves right to reveal findings.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A member of the commission empowered to probe the May 2 incident of Abbottabad, Lt General (retd) Nadeem Ahmad, said that the commission’s findings might take time to be released to the public.


Talking to the media after a flood relief seminar held at the American Pakistan Foundation, Ahmad said that the chairman of the commission, Justice Javed Iqbal, reserved the right to determine the appropriate time to reveal the findings of the commission, adding that the process could take longer as more witnesses were being questioned.

Ahmad also took the opportunity to clarify that he had been misquoted during an interview by the Australian Broadcasting Corp, where he was quoted as saying that he did not believe Pakistani military or intelligence supported Bin Laden’s presence in the country. “The statement was purely out of context,” Ahmad claimed, adding that cooperation with the commission was necessary and since its job was to find facts surrounding the incident, it was the court’s right to take it forward.

Refusing to comment on the involvement of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the Abbottabad operation, Ahmad said that the May 2 incident was purely an American operation. He told reporters that his meetings with the Pakistan army and air force were classified.

Ahmad, who is the former chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), was the chief guest at the flood relief seminar. He told the attendees that Pakistan was now in the Early Recovery and Reconstruction Phase after last year’s devastating floods. He claimed that the need to prepare for future natural disasters was greater now, saying that Pakistan had faced nine major natural disasters in the past five years.

Ahmad added that the capacity of the government to cope with the floods was well proven in 2010, adding that out of  a total of Rs10.5 billion in funds that were pledged for the floods only Rs1.5 billion were received by the government.  “We are still suffering and struggling, someone should have strategised for the reconstruction”.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Ahmad said that one of the reasons for the failure of flood relief and rehabilitation programmes was the handover of operations to the planning commission. “What needs to be understood is that reconstruction is not development,” he added. The former chairman stressed the need for funds to upgrade
the country’s risk aversion to natural disasters.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22nd,  2011.]]>
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			<title>PAF personnel briefs Abbottabad commission</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/207519/paf-personnel-briefs-abbottabad-commission</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/207519/paf-personnel-briefs-abbottabad-commission#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jul 11 20:16:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=207519</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The commission directed the Interior Ministry and ISI to ensure that Osama’s family was not repatriated from...]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan Air Force (PAF) claimed, on Monday, it had taken adequate measures soon after learning about the US raid in Abbottabad on May 2. Deputy Chief of Air Staff Muhammad Hassan made this claim while briefing the Abbottabad Commission.

During the commission’s second meeting, PAF personnel briefed it about the working of the radar monitoring system with the Deputy Air Chief explaining about the functioning of the radar system and their locations as well their operational mechanism during war and peace time, also briefing the commission about limitations of the radar systems due to terrain limitations.

He said that the PAF had immediately taken adequate measures after learning about the U.S. operation, adding that the PAF was ready to take action when the operation was underway.

In its first meeting, the commission had directed the Interior Ministry and ISI to ensure that Osama’s family was not repatriated from Pakistan without its consent while also questioning relevant officials from various aspects.

The commission has been tasked to ascertain the reality behind Osama's presence in Pakistan for such a long period as well as investigating the circumstances and facts pertaining to the US operation, determining the nature, background and causes of lapses on the part of the authorities concerned.

Director General of Military Operations General Ashfaq Nadeem also appeared before the commission.

Earlier in May, two US helicopters had entered Pakistan, conducting a 40 minute operation wherein Navy SEALs killed Osama bin Laden and returned back without being challenged by the PAF.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission convenes: Osama’s family  barred from leaving Pakistan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/203481/abbottabad-commission-convenes-osama%e2%80%99s-family-barred-from-leaving-pakistan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/203481/abbottabad-commission-convenes-osama%e2%80%99s-family-barred-from-leaving-pakistan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jul 11 03:01:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[irfan.ghauri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=203481</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Members of civil, military and political leadership may be called during the course of inquiry.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The commission assigned to probe the May 2 Abbottabad incursion by US Navy SEALS that killed Osama bin Laden has directed the interior ministry and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) to ensure that Bin Laden’s family does not leave the country without its permission.


Two of Bin Laden’s wives and some of his children were left behind in Abbottabad after the attack. The family is believed to be in the custody of the ISI.

The commission, headed by senior Supreme Court judge Justice Javed Iqbal, chalked out the modalities of its working and announced that it will call members of civil, military and political leadership during the course of inquiry, if needed.

“The ministry of interior and ISI have been directed to ensure that the family of Osama bin Laden is not repatriated from Pakistan without the consent of the commission,” a press statement issued after an in-camera meeting of the commission said.

The statement also elicited relevant information from the public and invited individuals to appear before the commission before July 31. Their identity will be kept confidential and they will also be provided legal protection. Tuesday’s meeting was also attended by Abbas Khan, a former inspector general of police, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, a former diplomat, Lieutenant General (retd) Nadeem Ahmed, a former military official, and Cabinet Division secretary Nargis Sethi.

The terms of reference of the commission are to ascertain the facts regarding the presence of Bin Laden in Pakistan for such a long time, investigate the  circumstances and facts surrounding the US operation, determine the nature, background and causes of lapses of the authorities concerned, if any, and make consequential recommendations. Justice (retd) Fakhruddin G Ibrahim, who was initially included as a member, refused to become part of the commission when it was initially announced because the government did not consult the chief justice before nominating Justice Javed Iqbal as head of the commission. The government later made a formal request to the chief justice who allowed Justice Iqbal to preside over this commission constituted under section 3 of Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act, 1956 (Act VI of 1956). Justice Iqbal will be retiring as a Supreme Court judge on July 31 but he claims that his retirement will not affect the working of the commission.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission: Sharif gives govt until June 30 to form panel</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/184501/abbottabad-commission-sharif-gives-govt-until-june-30-to-form-panel</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/184501/abbottabad-commission-sharif-gives-govt-until-june-30-to-form-panel#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Jun 11 04:56:47 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=184501</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PML-N chief threatens en masse resignation from assemblies if commission not formed.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Chief of his own faction of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Sharif has given the government until June 30 to form an independent commission to investigate the Abbottabad fiasco or else his party’s lawmakers could resign from assemblies en masse.


A joint closed-door session of parliament had demanded last month that the government set up an independent commission to inquire into the May 2 killing of al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in a top-secret operation by US commandos in Abbottabad.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani announced a commission, comprising a sitting judge of the Supreme Court and retired civil
and military bureaucrats, late last month. But Sharif’s party rejected it saying
the opposition was not consulted on the composition of the commission.

In an exclusive interview with Javed Chaudhry in the Express News programme, Kal Tak, the PML-N supremo strongly criticised the PPP-led coalition government accusing it of incompetence.

“The government should have set up a commission in consultation with Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on May 3 (a day after the Abbottabad attack),” he said. “But that didn’t happen.”

Sharif regretted that the government even disregarded the resolution passed by the joint session of parliament.

The PML-N chief warned that if the Abbottabad fiasco was not investigated, the country’s future would be at stake.

He said that his party has a couple of options, if the commission was not formed before June 30. “Our lawmakers can even resign from assemblies for greater national interest,” he added.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Abbottabad commission crashes before taking off</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/180669/abbottabad-commission-crashes-before-taking-off</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/180669/abbottabad-commission-crashes-before-taking-off#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 02 Jun 11 03:24:14 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[irfan.ghauri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=180669</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Justice Ebrahim refuses to join; PML-N rejects the body, SCBA raises questions over procedure.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[If the authorities were looking for some respite from the fallout of the Abbottabad raid by the US, a newly-formulated commission to probe the incident did not do the trick.


The commission suffered a major setback right off the bat with Justice (retd) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim declining to be its member, while the PML-N and the Supreme Court Bar Association have raised questions over its composition and the procedure adopted by the government to constitute it.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court – whose senior-most judge, Justice Javed Iqbal, was made the head of the commission – received a copy of the prime minister’s notification on Wednesday night and said that it would take up the issue today, Dr. Faqeer Hussain the registrar of the apex court told The Express Tribune.

The decision by the Supreme Court today will be crucial for the fate of this commission. Concerns have been raised that the nomination of Justice Iqbal, without prior permission from the chief justice, was against established judicial norms. The Supreme Court Bar Association has already expressed its reservations over the procedure adopted by the government while constituting this commission, saying that the name of a sitting judge in any such body cannot be included without consulting Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Leader of the main opposition party, PML-N, Nawaz Sharif, has also rejected the commission saying it was constituted without taking the leader of opposition in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, into confidence. He said that, by doing this, the government had made a mockery of parliament and its resolutions.

If the political and judicial issues were not enough, Ebrahim, a reputed jurist also made part of the commission, has conveyed to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani that he would not be part of the proceedings on the basis that the May 14 joint-resolution of parliament – which was paramount for constituting this commission – was not followed.

Gilani on Tuesday had notified a five-member commission, to be headed by Justice Iqbal and also included Justice (retd) Ebrahim, Lt Gen (retd) Nadeem Ahmed, Abbas Khan, a former inspector-general police, and Ashraf Jahangir Qazi, a former ambassador of Pakistan. This commission was supposed probe the May 2 US operation in Abbotabad in which US Special Forces killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

Justice Ebrahim on Wednesday wrote a letter to Gilani, which he read out on phone when The Express Tribune contacted him. He wrote to the prime minister that, as per the spirit of the joint-resolution, consultation of the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly was mandatory before announcing the members of the commission. He also quoted reservations of the Supreme Court Bar Association and civil society over the procedure adopted by the government to constitute the commission, as other reasons for his staying away from the body.

Answering a question, Justice Ebrahim said even he was not consulted by the government at any level before his name was included in the body.

“I had come to know through media reports only,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Justice Iqbal, who has been made head of the commission, expressed his conditional willingness to lead the commission but made it clear that it is the prerogative of the chief justice to allow any of his judges to become a part of any body proposed by the government.

“I was not consulted before the commission was announced either, but I am ready to be a part of it,” he asserted.

“However, as of now, I have not received any official notification. We will decide after a formal notification is received,” Justice Iqbal was quoted as telling media.

Supreme Court Bar Association President Asma Jahangir, in a press statement, said that direct appointments of sitting judges to any commission without taking the chief justice into confidence seriously undermined the independence of the judiciary.

She said that the chief justice should have been consulted before nominating a judge for any tribunal, commission or forum outside of the traditional court work.

Earlier, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly also told reporters that he was not consulted before the announcement of the commission, even though he had written a letter to Gilani on May 18 to press for an independent commission as per the joint resolution.

According to his letter, he had suggested seven names to be included in the proposed commission including Justice (retd) Shafiur Rehman, Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid, Justice (retd) Ebrahim, Majeed Nizami, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Asma Alamgir and Justice (retd) Bhagwan Das.

He had also proposed that the commission should be constituted under the Commission of Inquiry Act 1956.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2011.]]>
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