ISLAMABAD - The Abbottabad Commission, which is to meet Tuesday to probe the May 2 US raid that killed Osama bin Laden, is fully an autonomous body and is empowered to take decisions it deemed essential, sources said on Sunday. The government has notified the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the commission. But it is empowered to take decisions it deemed essential in accomplishing the task, Commissions Secretary Nargis Sethi told TheNation. Sethi, a senior most bureaucrat heading the Cabinet Division, said that Commission in its maiden meeting on July 5 would decide about modalities including the timeframe and frequency of the proceedings. She dismissed the notion that Abbottabad Commission might meet the same fate of the Hamoodur Rehman Commission, saying it was a mere speculation. It is premature to draw such conclusions about a body which has yet to start its function, she remarked. Media reports suggest that Hamoodur Rehman Commission set up by the then government to inquire into the reasons of the Fall of Dhaka, in its report had been highly critical to the role of the army in politics and recommended trial of a number of senior army top brass, including General Yahya Khan. Despite such apprehensions, many are pinning high hopes on Abbottabad Commission, saying it would certainly come up with clear answer to major questions relating to the sovereignty. They were of the view that Abbottabad Commission would deliver as heavy responsibility fell on the shoulders of the members of the commission, especially after two mainstream political parties including PML-N and PML-Q have already expressed reservations over it. The commission ran into controversy shortly after its announcement when one of the members Fakharuddin G Ibrahim declined to be part of it which consequently pushed PML-N to reject the commission. However, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani set up the commission on June 21 after Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry endorsed the name of Justice Javed Iqbal of the Supreme Court as its head. Members of the Commission included former inspector general of police Abbas Khan, former chairman of the NDMA Lt-Gen (Retd) Nadeem Ahmed and former ambassador Ashraf Jehangir Qazi. Cabinet Division Secretary Nargis Sethi will act, as its secretary while the ministry of interior will provide secretarial support. The commission would function within a framework notified by the government as its terms of reference of the commission which included: (a) to ascertain full facts regarding the presence of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan for such a long time; (b) investigate circumstances and facts regarding the US operation; (c) determine the nature, background and causes of lapses of authorities concerned, if any; and (d) make consequential recommendations.