A constitutional petition seeking the formation of a high-level commission to investigate the ‘Memogate’ controversy and determine who was responsible for the explosive document was filed in the Supreme Court on Monday. The petition was filed by lawyer Tariq Asad under Article 184(3) of the constitution, making the federation, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Interior Ministry, chief of army staff, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief and Pakistan’s ambassador to the US respondents. The petitioner requested the court to order the federal government to carry out an enquiry against Hussain Haqqani, Pakistan’s envoy to Washington, and those who were involved in the scandal. The petitioner asked the court to order the termination of Haqqani’s services if it was proved that he was involved in acts and deeds prejudicial to the integrity, security and sovereignty of Pakistan on the behest of President Asif Ali Zardari, and try for high treason all those who were found to be involved in the controversy. He further asked the court to direct the respondents to restrict the movements of Americans and all diplomats to within diplomatic areas. He contended that the memo written to the US government to seek its intervention in state affairs was against the sovereignty of Pakistan and was tantamount to high treason. “The executive/rulers had done some secret deal of the integrity, security and sovereignty of the country in lieu of millions and billions of dollars which the rulers are accumulating in foreign banks,” the petitioner stated. He stated that the people at large and the political parties had condemned the memo and had demanded a judicial enquiry to get access to the real facts of the conspiracy, thus a high-level commission should be formed to probe the matter in order to determine who was responsible.
