Inquiry committee formally begins investigations

ISLAMABAD: A three-member inquiry committee, constituted by Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani to investigate who had ordered hosing down of the crime scene after the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto, formally started work on Monday.

Online quoted official sources as saying that on the first day the committee finalised its terms of reference with regard to the inquiry. Cabinet Secretary Abdul Rauf Chaudhry, who is also chairman of the committee, presided over the meeting at the Cabinet Division. Vice Chief of Staff Maj-Gen Sajjad Ghani and Additional Chief Secretary Interior Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Fayyaz Tooro also attended the meeting.The committee discussed matters relating to its mandate and exchanged views on the modus operandi to be adopted for holding inquiry.

Officials said that the then Military Intelligence chief, Maj-Gen Nadeem Ejaz, would be summoned within a couple of days who is currently serving as Log Area Commander in Gujranwala. Notices will also be issued to other respective officers. Sources said the committee would review the UN Commission report. The committee’s proceedings would be in-camera and its recommendations would be sent to the prime minister within seven days. The appointment of Maj-Gen Sajjad Ghani on the committee was made after taking Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani into confidence. The committee would collect information from other persons involved in hosing down the crime scene.