Uncertainty continues to shroud whether Pakistani-American businessman and one of the main characters in the memogate Mansoor Ijaz will arrive to appear before the three-member commission on January 16 (tomorrow) as he has kept his arrival plan secret for security reasons.
However, a source close to Ijaz told Pakistan Today he will visit Pakistan ‘very soon’ but did not provide a date. Moreover, there was no confirmation from the foreign office on whether Ijaz had applied for visa to be able to travel to Pakistan. However, in a statement issued on Saturday, Ijaz announced he will visit Pakistan to depose before a Supreme Court-appointed judicial commission to speak “the truth” about the memo, which, he claimed, was written on behalf of President Asif Ali Zardari. Ijaz. However, did not reveal the date of his arrival in Pakistan.
But, at the same time, he attacked former envoy to the US Husain Haqqani, alleging that the ex-diplomat had “orchestrated a media campaign” against him. “Dream on, Mr Haqqani. I am coming to Pakistan. And I am going to tell a truth which you will no longer be able to hide from. I will tell it with such clarity and vigour that you and your brilliant legal team will find no space to run from it,” Ijaz stated, adding that he would welcome cross examination by Haqqani’s counsel. His statement to media came after Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said there was no threat to him in the country and that he would be provided security during his stay.
When contacted, Akram Shaikh, the counsel for Ijaz, said his client was coming to Pakistan and a statement had been issued in this regard to the media on Saturday. However, Shaikh avoided revealing the exact date and time of arrival of Ijaz, saying it could not be shared due to security reasons. “I am not his media manager. I am his counsel to plead his case in the court,” said Shaikh when pressed on what threats Ijaz was facing.
Asked whether Ijaz had sent him power of attorney enabling him to represent him in the court, Shaikh responded in affirmative. “He has sent me papers to represent him and I would submit them with the commission on Monday,” he added.
Akram Shaikh met the attorney general of Pakistan to submit a joint application with the commission seeking adjournment in the memo case which hinted that Ijaz might not appear before the commission on Monday.
Mansoor Ijaz is an enemy of Pakistan and should be treated like one when he comes. A full investigation should be conducted on his role in dismissal of Benazir Bhutto's government in 1996. His other acts also need to be investigated. If Kayani & Pasha are patriots & loyal to Pakistan, the minimum one can expect from them is that they will not side with him.
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