By Shakeel Anjum

ISLAMABAD: The government, in a swift follow-up action on the UN commission report on the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, has made five police officers and a DMG officer named in the report, as officers on special duty (OSDs), asking them to report to the Establishment Division, reliable sources told The News.

The Ministry of Interior has put the names of these officers on the Exit Control List (ECL) through a separate notification, Interior Ministry sources said. People by and large lauded the beginning of steps by the government against those whose names are mentioned in the UN report as suspects of Benazir Bhutto’s murder.

Well-informed sources hinted that the prime minister might decide to remove two federal ministers and some other top officers named in the UN report within the next 48 hours.

The sources said that the Establishment Division has issued a notification bearing the signature of Asif Shahzad (Section Officer - Police/DMG) on Sunday, notifying that six officers have been made OSDs. They include Additional IG Punjab Chaudhry Abdul Majid, the then DIG CID Punjab and head of the controversial Joint Investigation Team (JIT) constituted for the investigation of Benazir Bhutto’s murder and who created the ‘lever’ controversy; Saud Aziz, the then City Police Officer (CPO) Rawalpindi and currently Regional Police Officer (RPO) Multan (responsible for blocking autopsy); SSP (Operation) Rawalpindi Yaseen Farooq who is still holding the same office (responsible of hosing down the crime scene soon after the assassination of Benazir); the then ASP Ashfaq Anwar (responsible for providing security to Benazir and in-charge of her motorcade who was presently holding the office of SP (Headquarters) Rawalpindi); Khurran Shahzad, the then SP (Rawal Town) Rawalpindi and presently SSP (Operations) Gujranwala (the crime scene was hosed down under his supervision); and the then district coordination officer (DCO) Rawalpindi, Irfan Ilahi who is currently serving as secretary, government of the Punjab.

The government has cancelled the contract of Brigadier (retd) Javed Cheema, the then Director General (DG) National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) and current DG Civil Defence. Cheema was accused of creating controversies including the lever-hit controversy.

With the much awaited and extensively debated UN report now finally out, some people have heaved a deep sigh of relief over being almost exonerated by the UN commission while there are others who have become even more agitated and outraged as they say the whole exercise was nothing but a hog-wash and waste of public money and precious time.

But the report has also become extremely controversial. Doubts are being cast over its credibility, especially after it was withheld for 15 days on a request made directly to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Now the dilemma is that the people who were interviewed by the UN commission as ‘suspects’ in the course of their investigations are the ones who are holding the most important positions. They have in fact become ‘untouchables’ and in many cases, are climbing up the ladder of success.

Take for instance the case of Rehman Malik, who was security adviser to Ms Bhutto and whose incompetence the report did not fail to mention. The person who failed to provide security to one politician has now been entrusted with providing security to the whole nation.

He, along with three other persons, was accused of taking away the back-up vehicle at the time of the blast, which could have been used to save vital moments by transporting the critically injured Ms Bhutto to hospital. Far from being made accountable for their act, all the passengers of the vehicle have been given important positions in the present set-up. Babar Awan was not only made a federal minister but was also given a very controversial state award. Farhatullah Babar presently holds the position of presidential spokesman and sooner or later, General (retd) Tauqeer, too would enter the power corridors.

And finally, one wonders how the proposed criminal investigation would be held fairly when the person whose role needs to be looked into microscopically is in-charge of the ministry whose subordinate departments would be entrusted with the investigation.

Online adds: Meanwhile, talking to a private TV channel, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Sunday that the government would not spare Musharraf if he is responsible (for the murder of Benazir Bhutto) and action would be taken against all persons identified by the UN inquiry report without any discrimination.

Replying to a query, Rehman Malik said action would also be taken against those who were travelling in the black Mercedes during the Rawalpindi bloodshed. He said there is no need of a new FIR and the investigation would be driven in the light of UN commission’s report.

Our Lahore correspondent adds: Federal Law Minister Dr Babar Awan Sunday said action will be taken on the UN Commission’s report on Benazir Bhutto’s assassination within the next 24 hours.

He said the names of those notified in the report had been included in the Exit Control List (ECL).He was talking to the media after visiting the residence of late Dr Israr Ahmed to express condolence over his demise with his family.

APP adds: Dr Babar Awan said that Asif Ali Zardari is the first President in Pakistan history who has strengthened parliament by cutting his powers short through the 18th amendment adding that he (President) would sign the 18th amendment bill tomorrow (Monday).

To another query, he said the government would be facing many pointing fingers by itself holding the inquiry into the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, adding now there is a sense of satisfaction among the PPP workers after the release of the UN Commission report in this regard.