ISLAMABAD: 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.
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COMMENTS (13)
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@You Said It, I too cannot decide whether to laugh or cry at your stupidity. @Narayan, There was no Indian involvement, stop trying to give yourself importance.
It's funny if there was no comission people would moan about that...and if there is a comission it's not credible because it is influenced by the big evil army....riiiight people will always find a reason to whine.
.......End of December...........please don't spoil somebody's New Year eve!!
Indian involvement must be investigated.
@Babloo: I'll invent one: claptrap + crap = "craptrap"
Tonight on Bolta Pakistan Nusrat Javed mentioned that General Ziauddin publicly stated (as reported in the Daily Jang, June this year) "that Gen Musharraf and Brig Ijaz Shah were fully aware of the presence of the slain al-Qaeda chief."
If the Commission dares to probe behind the curtain it may well end up sharing a fate similar to the Hamoodur Rehman Commission Report (i.e. read by Pakistani public via courtesy of an Indian newspaper a quarter of a century later)
ab kya faida.
The report would be only a hogwash if the main question of OBL living for 6 years in an army base not answered. The courts and judges write the order and not become press and media hogs. Everybody loves the limelight and not the facts. What was a pressing need when the decision is coming in only a few more weeks? Only in Pakistan Judges hot big press events!
@Babloo: LOL !!!! Lot of BS !
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.
I can't make up my mind whether to laugh or cry: So Justice Javed Iqbal and the Abbotabad Commission are now investigating whether Hussain Haqqani issued visas to the SEAL team that executed the OBL raid? Rejoice Pakistan -- our ghairat is restored!!! So the story so far -- Haqqani first gave visas to the SEAL team to come into the country and kill OBL, then used the May 2 attack to write the memo to Mullen to stop the coup. Let's hang him for treason like we did ZAB.
Whats the english word for a irrelevent report full of pro-establishment propoganda ? My vocabulary is not that good.
Are they going to investigate who sheltered Osama Bin Laden or is this an exercise to soothe the ruffled feathers of the Public ? Great to know that President Zardari is also being summoned, tells us which way the wind is blowing and pretty much the outcome.
Wasting time and money.
Hats off to Justice Javed Iqbal. I saw the whole press conference. The way he made everything clear about investigation and faced all the question is commendable. One of the very few honest and truthful persons in present government.