Pak hardline leader opposes commission to probe Osama's death

"In my opinion, it is not a wise move and will only complicate things further... If the commission finds the military in the wrong, it will be Pakistan that will suffer, not the military leadership," Rehman said.

It was "unlikely" the government would set up such a commission because "accountability of the army and intelligence agencies will be difficult for it", he told the media here yesterday.

Rehman claimed the government had created a controversy over the commission in order to avoid investigating the killing of bin Laden.

If the commission blamed the armed forces for being negligent, it would result in isolation of the military, he said.

A joint session of both houses of the Parliament which debated the May 2 US raid that killed bin Laden had passed a resolution asking the government to set up an independent commission to probe the incident.

The government has already run into problems over the commission.Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced the formation of the commission headed by a Supreme Court judge on May 31, but one member refused to be part of the panel days later, saying he was not consulted by the government.

Javed Iqbal, the apex court judge named to head the panel, has said he will take on the responsibility if the move is cleared by the Chief Justice.

Moreover, Iqbal is set to retire on August 1, raising questions as to whether the commission will be able to complete its task.

The main opposition PML-N too has rejected the commission announced by Prime Minister Gilani, saying that Leader of Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was not consulted on its composition.

The government has set up the secretariat for the commission, indicating that it is expected to start its work soon.