ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to form the much-debated independent commission to investigate the May 2 Abbottabad incident after the return of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani from China, sources told Dawn on Thursday.

But there is an uncertainty even in the government about the type of the commission -- parliamentary or government or judicial. Who will be its members? When will it be formed and when will it start functioning? What will be its terms of reference? And to whom it will be answerable?

Political observers are of the opinion that the commission must be empowered to see record of the departments concerned and summon anyone it may require.

“The commission will definitely be formed, but the exercise to establish it will start after Prime Minister Gilani’s return from China,” presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said. He said the government and Pakistan People’s Party had started consultations and its members’ names were being considered.

The prime minister will return on Friday.

The Pakistan Muslim League-N has proposed some names for the commission and it may demand its early formation.

Some of the names proposed for its chairman and being considered by the government are: Justice (retd) Bhagwan Das, I.A. Rehman, Justice (retd) Shafiur Rehman, Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid, Justice (retd) Fakharuddin G. Ibrahim, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, SCBA President Asma Jehangir and Majeed Nizami.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said he wrote a letter to be sent to the prime minister suggesting the names of retired judges, politicians and people from the media and civil society who could be appointed as members of the independent commission to be formed in accordance with the resolution adopted by a joint session of the two houses of parliament.

The resolution adopted on May 14 did not address specific questions being raised about the type, size and powers of the commission.

The resolution said: “The joint session of parliament called upon the government to appoint an independent commission on the Abbottabad operation, fix responsibility and recommend necessary measures to ensure that such an incident does not recur. The composition/modalities of the commission will be settled after consultations between the leader of the house and the leader of the opposition.”

Analysts are of the opinion that the formation of the independent commission will be a real test of the government because it appears to be difficult for the government and the opposition to agree on the names of its members.

They said that a discord had occurred in the appointment of National Accountability Bureau chairman. The post has been lying vacant for two months and the two sides have so far failed to agree on a name.

“I personally believe that an independent commission must be formed to address the situation confronting the nation in the wake of the US operation in which Osama bin Laden was killed,” Justice (retd) Tariq Mehmood said.

It is not yet certain who will draft the terms of reference of the commission.

“The outcome of the commission will depend on its terms of reference” Mr Mehmood said.