Abbottabad panel summons Sheikh Rashid

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The commission headed by Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal expanded its scope of work last week and summoned former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani and PML-N legislator Khwaja Asif on Dec 14.—File Photo

ISLAMABAD: The commission investigating the May 2 US operation in Abbottabad that killed Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden has called former federal minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to appear before it on Dec 13, Dawn has learnt.

Last week, the commission headed by Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal expanded its scope of work and summoned former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani and PML-N legislator Khwaja Asif on Dec 14.

Sheikh Rashid, who served as information minister during the Musharraf regime, confirmed to Dawn that he had been summoned to apprise members of the commission of his perception about the Abbottabad operation.

He said the notice showed that he had been invited along with some other people.

The commission has already interviewed several high-ranking officials from armed forces, intelligence agencies, police, the National Database and Registration Authority and other government departments.

The members of the commission are Lt-Gen (retd) Nadeem Ahmed, former inspector general of police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Abbas Khan and former ambassador Ashraf Jehangir Qazi.

They have twice visited Abbottabad and inspected the compound where Bin Laden had allegedly been residing with his family.

The commission interviewed some local people and recorded the statements of wives and daughters of Bin Laden before granting them permission to leave Pakistan.

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