Islamabad, May 2 (IANS) The killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan’s Abbottabad city evoked divergent views in the country with some political leaders Monday terming it as a major breakthrough while others said it wouldn’t affect Al Qaeda’s network and some sought the departure of the United States from Pakistani soil after bin Laden.
Former information minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MP Sherry Rehman said the death of Osama in a US special forces operation in cooperation with Pakistani military intelligence was a great success as Pakistan has been struggling to nip the menace of extremism and terrorism, The Nation reported.
She said that the killing of Osama by Pakistani forces reveals Pakistan’s commitment against terrorism.
Former cricketer and Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party Imran Khan said in the recent past the US had justified its presence in the South Asian region aimed at hunting Al Qaeda chief bin Laden, who as per their claims, was the mastermind of World Trade Center blasts which left more than 2,500 people dead besides injuring hundreds of others.
After confirmation of his death, the US has no justification to stay in Pakistan or Afghanistan as its task has been completed, he added.
Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) leader Marvi Memon criticised the present political leadership in the country for their mysterious silence over the killing of bin Laden when the entire international media was concentrating on the issue and US President Barack Obama himself addressed the nation to take them into confidence.
