Islamabad: The Pakistani judicial commission
probing the killing of Osama bin Laden removed an intelligence
operative from its proceedings after journalists pointed out
his presence to the judge heading the panel, media reports
said on Saturday.
The incident occurred at a meeting convened by the panel
in Abbottabad yesterday to record the statements of some
journalists.
Some persons pointed out to members of the commission
that an official from an intelligence agency was present in
the room.
Justice Javed Iqbal, the head of the panel, asked the
intelligence operative how he entered the premises.
The man claimed he had come inside with the janitorial
staff.
On hearing this, Iqbal asked him to leave the room, the
reports said today.
Speaking to journalists informally, Iqbal said the
commission had collected evidence and its report would be
compiled as soon as possible.
He urged journalists to record their statements and said
the commission would guarantee their security.
This was the commission's second visit in September to
Abbottabad, where US special forces killed the Al Qaeda leader
on May 2.
The commission visited bin Laden's compound for the
second time yesterday.
The government has asked the panel to probe how bin
Laden's presence in Pakistan went undetected, to investigate
circumstances surrounding the 40-minute US operation and the
nature and causes of lapses by concerned authorities.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, October 01, 2011, 18:20