Does Mansoor Ijaz deserve it?
It is highly irksome to continue to comment on the preposterous demands of an ordinary American citizen, declared as such by the US embassy in Pakistan which has declined to provide him any security. For anyone with courage of conviction that he pretends to possess, Ijaz should have been content with the type of security promised by the interior minister. The issue has highly significant political implications. In case Ijaz’s unreasonable plea is accepted, this would raise several disturbing question. Many will question why no army battalion was detailed to secure the life of Benazir Bhutto, twice Prime Minister of Pakistan? There is need on the part of the tribunal also to ponder over the matter. Several leaders of the PPP and ANP are on the declared hit list of the militants. The army has never been asked to provide them security, nor has it ever considered offering them the service. Judges sentencing terrorist leaders and bosses of criminal gangs have a stronger case for military protection. Pakistan army doesn’t have enough battalions to look after each and every deserving case. Once the precedent is set, the courts would find it hard to adjudicate the cases filed by so many genuine applicants in need of special security.
While a TV channel has reported the arrival of Ijaz in Dubai, his counsel has said he has been advised not to come to Pakistan in the absence of proper security and the fear that he might be detained in the country. The Parliamentary Committee on National Security has directed Ijaz to send his statement and present himself before the body. This was quite appropriate because the prestigious committee is also probing the issue of the memo. What is wrong with putting Ijaz on the ECL till he presented himself before the prestigious parliamentary committee?
The Defence Committee of Cabinet is meeting today with the memo case as one of the items on its agenda. It is time the committee looks into the grievous implications of providing the type of guarantees being sought by a foreign citizen with a seedy reputation.