None willing to head Pak panel on Osama killing

[1]

Over a fortnight after its constitution was recommended by the parliament, a commission that will probe the circumstances that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, is yet to find a person to head it with no one willing to accept the offer.

A joint session of parliament, held on May 13, had recommended the setting up of a commission to investigate the circumstances that led to the embarrassing development of bin Laden being found and killed on Pakistani soil.

Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the government was looking for an individual who enjoyed not only national but also international acceptance, the Dawn reported.

Quoting sources, the daily said with the PML-N ratcheting up pressure on the government for constitution of the commission, a move that also carried the stamp of the parliament, the government was looking for a non-controversial name but so far has failed to find one.

The PML-N has formally requisitioned a session of the National Assembly just to discuss what the party calls ‘deliberate delay by the government in announcing formation of the commission.’

"Nobody was willing to take up a responsibility that was bound to attract media glare both at local and international levels.”

"Moreover, his or her terms of references for the job would also include fixing responsibility at the top military level, further making the task very difficult," a top unnamed government official was quoted as saying.

The official said options included a sitting or retired judge of the Supreme Court, a former military general who has an impeccable service record, a retired civil servant, preferably from the foreign services.

Names of a former chief of the army staff and a retired foreign secretary were also under consideration, he added.