As Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz, the central character in the memo controversy, refused to come to Pakistan citing serious threats to his life from Interior Minister Rehman Malik, the judicial commission investigating the scandal rejected his petition seeking to have his statement recorded abroad and hoped on Tuesday that the US national would appear before it on February 9, the next date of hearing, saying the assurances made by the attorney general and interior minister were enough to allay apprehensions vis-à-vis his security and the safety of the evidence he would be bringing with him.
The commission said in its order that Commission Secretary Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan would receive Ijaz from his seat in the plane and escort him all the way to the Islamabad High Court for his appearance before the commission, or wherever he wanted to reside during his stay in Pakistan. It also directed the Civil Aviation Authority, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Immigration Department to facilitate the commission secretary in this regard.
Commission Chairman Justice Qazi Faez Isa said the “genuine concerns” of Ijaz regarding his security had been addressed and the commission would accept no further excuses from him for not coming to Pakistan. During the course of the proceedings, Ijaz’s counsel, Akram Shaikh, insisted on the provision of security cover to his client exclusively by the army, to which the commission did not agree, saying personnel of four law enforcement agencies would provide security to him.
As Shaikh told the commission that his client did not choose to come to Pakistan because of security threats, former ambassador Husain Haqqani’s counsel Zahid Bukhari pressed the commission to not afford another opportunity to Ijaz to testify, as he did not come to Pakistan despite security assurances from the quarters concerned. However, Justice Isa told him: “Why don’t you go for a knockout in case he fails to appear before the commission next time. How will you be vindicated without a finding? Haqqani himself wanted an enquiry as stated in his resignation. You will stand penalised if you are not vindicated.”
Some of the petitioners in the memo case asked the commission to make arrangements to collect evidence from Ijaz abroad, but Haqqani’s lawyer opposed the proposal, saying the US national should not be given another opportunity to testify. However, the chairman dropped a hint that the commission would have to seek the apex court’s permission if it wanted to go abroad for collection of evidence. Earlier, Shaikh told the commission that security threats to his client emanated from none other than the interior minister himself. He referred to the statements attributed to the Rehman Malik in which he allegedly said Ijaz’s name would be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) if the Parliamentary Committee on National Security so desired. Shaikh said Ijaz had no trust in Malik or anybody deployed by him to his security detail. “The gadgets that my client wants to bring with him might be stolen”, he added. The chairman then asked the attorney general if the interior minister’s statements were not contradicting the undertaking he had submitted to the commission and its orders. “He (Malik) should let us know if he has got some judicial powers,”
said Justice Isa, and asked the attorney general to call the interior minister so as to clear his position vis-à-vis his press statements. He was also critical of the statements of the prime minister on the commission’s proceedings. Malik later submitted to the commission that he had no intentions to put Ijaz’s name on the ECL and had not directed any authorities to do so. He denied the press statements attributed to him to the satisfaction of the commission.
Justice Isa observed that the courts were sanctuaries and even criminals had the right to approach the court. He said the commission would ensure safe arrival and return of each and every witness who wanted to depose before it as the commission was mindful of the security of every witness.
He observed that the commission was not being allowed to do its work and questioned why these people (government functionaries) were obstructing the arrival of Ijaz in Pakistan. Addressing the interior minister, Justice Isa said: “Your statements have created this disturbance. Had these not been there the court’s time would not have been wasted”.
However, Malik stated before the commission that Ijaz would not be put on the ECL and full security would be provided to him upon his arrival in Pakistan.
On two occasions, the chairman asked the court assistants to bring out the Code of Conduct for Lawyers as the attorney general and Haqqani’s counsel interrupted the proceedings. The commission also took it as strange that the lawyers in the memo case were approaching the media, which it termed a violation of the Codes of Conduct. He hoped that in future none of the lawyers engaged in the case would talk to the media on the issue. The commission was not satisfied with the affidavit submitted by Haqqani as it lacked clarity on all four points the commission had sought replies to. Haqqani did not say in clear terms when he last used his two missing BlackBerry smartphones or whose property they were. On the question of waiving his privacy rights, Haqqani submitted that it would be decided after evidence from Ijaz was presented to the commission.
The commission termed Haqqani’s affidavit “ambiguous”. The attorney general told the commission that so far the Canadian High Commission in Pakistan had not responded to its letter, which sought data from the Canadian manufacturer of BlackBerry smartphones.
The commission then adjourned the hearing for February 9 and is going to seek more time from the apex court for completion of the task assigned to it.
NO
never. Chor kabhi nhi aya ga
no…..this whole issue is a big “topi drama”
Why should he, he got his dollars already, paid by the Sharifs of Raiwind
Why should he, he got his dollars already, paid by the Sharifs of Raiwind
Why should he, he got his dollars already, paid by the Sharifs of Raiwind
Why should he, he got his dollars already, paid by the Sharifs of Raiwind
Why should he, he got his dollars already, paid by the Sharifs of Raiwind
Why should he, he got his dollars already, paid by the Sharifs of Raiwind
Mansoor Ijaz, a golden girl now a day, but coward businessman, not a cunning one,
I don't think he is coward. He is being cautious that is what the training in the developed world teaches you i.e. be careful.
One's personal safety is foremost and it is the responsibility of the state to provide that safety to the satisfaction of the person who feels threatened and not the satisfaction of those who are providing safety.
In this case those providing safety are very clear what will be the implications if the investigation of this nature led to framing of charges and a conviction later, if there is some substance those charges. The problem here is that even the initial investigation is not being permitted.
The common man of Pakistan, the poor man of Pakistan never had a reprieve or a relief because those responsible for reprehensible crimes never paid for their crimes.
It had to be a British police who did a through investigation and a British judge who convicted the three cricketers. Feel the difference yourself, the players are playing with concentration and delivering the results.
It is important that the prosecution and judicial system in Pakistan follow established examples in the world.
For the sake of Truth,
The commission’s job is to find the truth for the people of Pakistan. There were some serious charges levelled against the highest functionaries of the state.
If Mansoor Ijaz fears for his life, which is the biggest fear that one can have, it is then commission's responsibility to travel abroad to record the evidence.
It will be a travesty of justice to file this case without knowing the truth and finding out who was bargaining with a foreign power for Pakistan's nuclear assets and serve him with the punishment that the person deserved.
Justices you can't absolve yourself from this responsibility. I hope you have not been threatened. There was someone implicated in the murder of a judge in Karachi but later acquitted for lack of evidence.
Justices please remember where there is smoke there is fire.
May Allha Subhan-o- Tala protect you all and Pakistan.
UK 1710 hours.
The memogate has become a joke. There appears to be a conspiracy to hide the truth. First the P.M comments that it is going to cost? billions of rupees to protect Mansoor thereby not encouraging further movement. Then our very wise Interior
minister blows hot and cold and issues veiled threats and offers foolproof security _ whatever it may mean. Who would in his right mind travel under such circumstances to Pakistan where lawers throw petals on murderers. I thought the Govt would let no stone unturned to get to the bottom of the matter. Perhaps it is better to let sleeping dogs sleep. I salute Mr Mansoor,s courage to disclose the truth but he should not be accepted to trust the foolproof security which belies definition. So let us accept Mark Anthonys saying " the truth lies buried with Caesar" Hail Pakistan,s justice
Well said sir.
Mansoor ijaz u have to come forward … this is the time to write history on the heart of all politician…. plz we all pray for truth … if ur true then our best prayers r with u other wise……….
Go a Head Man…. Be A Man this time…..
Yes but it is hard to put your head in the hang man's noose and trust a hangman like Rehman Malik not to open the trap door underneath. The death of BB is something no one has ever explained.
Why should he, he got his dollars already, paid by the Sharifs of Raiwind
Surely Zardari could pay him 10 times more to say Haqqani is innocent
It wasn’t a topi drama yaar. do you see public threats made on media level by people’s party? how can anybody in his right senses will come when he knows that they will put him on ECL and then they will take revenge.
Stop wasting Tax payers money… get rid of these crooks. They have already settled the Memo issue to everyone's convenience. Why else would Mr. Shareef go away and the rest appear so relaxed. Crooks one and all… We should accept the American dominance and all should enjoy why just the politicians.??
It is obvious that there is no one willing to step in and save Pakistan. The SC won't do it. GHQ won't do it and the Politicans have no real interest in doing it.
Zardari has won and Pakistan has lost in more ways then we can know.
Give the devil his due, Zardari has made a fool of everyone. He has out smarted Nawaz Sharif, side stepped the SC and out manevoured GHQ. ZAB was clever and Zia was cunning but Zardari could eat them for breakfast and still have room to finish off a couple of plates of Biriyani.
Nawaz Sharif has lost direct, lost the iniative and lost any chance of leading Pakistan again.
The SC is been toyed with and GHQ made to eat humble pie. the only people clapping for joy are the PPP and their allies in the Anti-Pakistan group. The group that is forever telling us how much they care for us but how much more we must do to continue to be 'acceptable'.
With Hindsight, and I said this many years ago but was accused of being unpatriotic, testing the NUKES was a mistake. Better to have played the Israeli game and kept everyone guessing and on the edge of their seats.
rehman played and ijaz slipped as desired; rehman malik can be credited with the title of psy war expert like
IBN ZIAD WHO SCARED PEOPLE OF KUFA ON 8TH ZILLHAJ 60 HIJRI WITH A FALSE ALARM OF SYRIAN ARMY HEADING TOWARDS KUFA!!!!!!!
memo issue (full topidrama)
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