Abbottabad raid: PML-N reject independent commission

PML-N Chief says the government did not consult Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar while forming the commission.

LAHORE: PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday rejected the government's newly formed independent commission to probe the May 2, US raid in Abbottabad which led to the killing of Osama bin Laden.

The PML-N Chief said that the government did not consult Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan while forming the commission to investigate the raid.

Chaudhry Nisar had earlier written a letter to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, in which he claims that the PM did not consult the opposition on the formation of the Abbottabad commission.

The five-member commission announced by Gilani will be headed by Justice Javed Iqbal, a senior judge of the Supreme Court. Other members of the commission are Justice Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, Lt-Gen (retd) Nadeem Ahmed, former police chief Abbas Khan and former ambassador Ashraf Jahangir Qazi. The cabinet secretary will work as secretary of the commission.

Nisar had, however requested that retired judges of higher judiciary and civil society members should be a part of the commission. He said that Asma Jahangir, Justice Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, and Justice (R) Bagwandas should be a part of the commission.

'Opposition was consulted': PPP Ministers Khursheed Shah and Maula Bakhsh Chandio

Speaking to the media in Islamabad on Wednesday Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Khursheed Shah addressed PML (N)’s reservations about the recently formed independent commission,  saying the commission on the Abbottabad operation had been formed after consulting all stakeholders in the opposition.

Shah said that Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani had included the name of Justice Javed Iqbal in the commission after consultation.

He also stressed that no one else had objected to the people included in the body as they are all of good repute.

The minister added that if Chaudhry Nisar had any reservations about the commission, then he should apprise the government on them so that the government could clarify them.

Meanwhile another PPP minister, Maula Bakhsh Chandio, also reiterated that the opposition was consulted before the formation of the commission.

He said the report of the inquiry commission will be made public.