Abbottabad Commission: Report to be completed by end of December
Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal says commission will recommend that government make the report public.
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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[poll id="587"]
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"]