Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif on Wednesday demanded a parliamentary commission to investigate the recent controversy stirred by former ambassador to the United States, Husain Haqqani, who has claimed that Pakistan allowed Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operatives on its soil to track down the then Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.
In a recent piece in Washington Post, Haqqani had claimed that the civilian government led by the Pakistan People’s Party had given visas to the US spy agency operatives so that they could hunt for Osama bin Laden, and it eventually led to the OBL raid by US Navy SEALS on May 2, 2011.
Haqqani in his article had also claimed that the then civilian government had not informed the military about these developments.
Addressing the National Assembly session on Wednesday, Khawaja Asif said that Haqqani has named then president Asif Ali Zardari and prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in his article, and the opposition was trying to bury the allegations by merely labeling Haqqani as a “traitor”. “The matter is not that simple,” he added.
Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah said that a joint parliamentary commission should be made over the claims. “We want the issue to be investigated. It will only strengthen the parliament.”
Haqqani’s claims have caused an uproar in Pakistan, with even some of his former party fellows rebuffing them and painting him as a traitor.
Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif on Wednesday demanded a parliamentary commission to investigate the recent controversy stirred by former ambassador to the United States, Husain Haqqani, who has claimed that Pakistan allowed Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operatives on its soil to track down the then Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.
In a recent piece in Washington Post, Haqqani had claimed that the civilian government led by the Pakistan People’s Party had given visas to the US spy agency operatives so that they could hunt for Osama bin Laden, and it eventually led to the OBL raid by US Navy SEALS on May 2, 2011.
Haqqani in his article had also claimed that the then civilian government had not informed the military about these developments.
Addressing the National Assembly session on Wednesday, Khawaja Asif said that Haqqani has named then president Asif Ali Zardari and prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in his article, and the opposition was trying to bury the allegations by merely labeling Haqqani as a “traitor”. “The matter is not that simple,” he added.
Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah said that a joint parliamentary commission should be made over the claims. “We want the issue to be investigated. It will only strengthen the parliament.”
Haqqani’s claims have caused an uproar in Pakistan, with even some of his former party fellows rebuffing them and painting him as a traitor.