Irked by the controversial claims by Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz, JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik has asked the chief justice of Pakistan for permission to depose before the commission probing “memogate”.
A letter was sent to Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry through Advocate Zafar Shah, and if approved Malik would be coming to Pakistan to depose voluntarily before the commission.
“A request was filed that he would also like to depose before the commission (looking into the memo controversy),” Malik’s counsel Shah told Kashmir Times.
Yasin’s wife, Mushaal Malik also approached the memo commission through an application to become a party in the case.
She stated that an allegation levelled by Ijaz that he had arranged a meeting between her husband and CD Sahay, a former Indian intelligence (RAW) chief, had damaged his reputation.
Ijaz, the key figure in the controversy, recently, claimed to have introduced Yasin to then deputy chief of India’s intelligence agency, RAW.
Yasin has refuted the allegations. And in response to a story carried by Tehelka—a magazine—he even offered to retire from public life if the allegations were proven.
“Therefore, I challenge, if anybody proves, I have ever met any RAW chief, I would retire from public life,” he had written to Tehelka. The response was published by the magazine.
The letter terms Ijaz’s accusation a “cleverly calculated mischief” attempted at showing Malik in “poor light”. “…having come to know about the said statement, my client was pained. He feels cleverly calculated mischief in the statement of Ijaz Mansoor,” reads the letter, a copy of which is with this newspaper.
“…I have been briefed to state,” the letter states further, “that my clients holds relevant information and wishes to depose before the commission in order to assist the commission in arriving at the truth. Apart from the facts, to be revealed during the course of deposition before the commission my client considers it appropriate to state that previously also an attempt was made by the said person to show my client in poor light.”
The counsel said the chief justice and the commission would look into the request.
“We will get to know about their response on Monday. If they approve the request Malik will have to go to Pakistan to depose before the commission,” he said.
Earlier, the memo commission was approached by the wife of Kashmiri leader who submitted an application to become a party in the case. In her petition, Yasin’s wife requested the commission to provide her husband an opportunity to explain his position. She said since Yasin was at present in Srinagar, he could appear before the commission next month.
At this point, Ijaz’s counsel, contrary to the stance taken by him earlier in the day, suggested to the commission to delete the portion of the testimony related to Yasin from the record. He said acceptance of the application would open a new Pandora’s Box because the commission would have to summon the former Indian intelligence chief and a reporter of a foreign newspaper as well. Advocate Bokhari requested the commission to accept the plea. “Since Malik claims having some evidence against Ijaz, he will be useful for the inquiry.” The commission deferred the matter until Sunday.
