Ijaz seeks time till Jan 25, Haqqani’s BlackBerry lost

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Counsel for US businessman Mansoor Ijaz, Advocate Akram Shaikh, on Monday told the commission set up to probe on the memo controversy that Ijaz would be able to appear before it on or after Jan 25.
According to a private television channel, a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court (BHC) Justice Qazi Faez Essa resumed the hearing of the ‘memogate’ case. During the meeting, Justice Essa remarked, “Our patience should not be put to test.” Before asking Shaikh, “When will Mansoor Ijaz appear before the commission?”
Shaikh apprised the commission of Ijaz’s reservations over travelling to Pakistan. He said the statements regarding registration of treason cases against Ijaz and the sacking of the defence secretary were also causes for concern for the American businessman.
Shaikh said Ijaz was also getting threats from certain quarters and that the ongoing complications in Pakistan’s civil-military relations were also a cause of concern for him.
Shaikh informed the commission that his client has applied for Pakistan’s visa at Swiss Embassy, and his appointment at the embassy is due at 3pm (PST) today.
Justice Essa responded by saying that the commission has limited time to conclude the case and it would be better if Ijaz comes to Pakistan as soon as possible.
Moreover, the counsel of former ambassador Hussain Haqqani presented the e-mail address and BlackBerry number of Haqqani to the commission. However, Attorney-General Maulvi Anwarul Haq told the commission that Haqqani’s old BlackBerry phone had been lost in the United States as it was neither found at his residence, nor at the embassy.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif, former ambassador to US Husain Haqqani and Mansoor Ijaz’s counsel Akram Shaikh were present during hearing.

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