Opposition leader Sharif rejects Bin Laden inquiry commission

Islamabad: Opposition leader and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has rejected an inquiry commission set up by the government early this week on the May 2 US raid that killed Osama Bin Laden in his hideout in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad.

The chief of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) told a political rally on Thursday his party does not accept the commission because it was constituted without holding consultations with his party.

The parliament on May 14 asked Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to set up an independent inquiry commission on the Abbottabad incident in consultation with the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan of PML-N.

Marred by controversy

By the end of May, Gilani established a commission under Justice Javed Iqbal, which was marred by a controversy as one of the nominated members declined and the judge said he could take up the task only after the government obtains concurrence of the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

Subsequently, the government made a written request and Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry nominated the same judge to head the commission after which Gilani announced its composition.

The members of the commission, which is yet to start its work, are Lt. Gen. (retd) Nadeem Ahmad, former inspector general of police Abbas Khan and former ambassador Arshad Jehangir Qazi.

Full facts

According to the terms of reference, the commission will ascertain full facts regarding the presence of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan, investigate all aspects regarding the US operation in Abbottabad, determine the nature and causes of lapses, if any, of authorities concerned.

Bin Laden widow can return to Yemen

Officials in Pakistan say the country has agreed to let Osama Bin Laden's youngest widow to return to her native Yemen. But they would not reveal when she'll leave.

Amal Ahmad Abdul Fattah, two other widows and eight of Bin Laden's children were detained following the May 2 US raid that killed the Al Qaida chief in Abbottabad. A Pakistani security official said that Pakistan has granted her permission to go home. An official at the Yemen embassy in Islamabad confirmed an agreement had been reached on her deportation.

— With inputs from AP