Bin Laden 'protector' dined at Government House

The Pakistani spy was a dinner guest at Government House, and nearly Pakistan's High Commissioner to Australia. He was also allegedly harbouring Osama bin Laden.
-----------------------------------

• Claim Brigadier Ijaz Shah harboured Osama bin Laden for years

• Claim Abbottabad compound was built to bin Laden's specifications on Shah's orders

• Benazir Bhutto alleged Shah was conspiring with terrorists to assassinate her

• Shah has strong links to Australia

• Shah says the allegations groundless.

WHEN Brigadier Ijaz Shah sat down to dinner at Government House in Canberra in June 2005, he was just one of Pakistani's President Pervez Musharraf's considerable entourage.

His military attire likely attracted little attention. His boss often wore army greens, and those present at the state dinner to mark the military dictator's visit included the Governor General and former commander of Australia's SAS, Major General Michael Jeffery, and the then Chief of the Australian Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove.

 "Pakistan is a key ally for Australia in the war against terror, and has played a pivotal role in efforts to dismantle global terrorist networks such as al-Qaeda," Prime Minister John Howard said before the Pakistani leader's arrival. "President Musharraf has played a courageous and resolute role in combating terrorism in the region."

(As appeared in Sydney Morning Herald)

Brigadier Ijaz Shah, alleged to have harboured Osama Bin Laden inside Pakistan for years, was a dinner guest at Government House in Canberra. Photo: Abid Nawaz
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------