Haqqani unlikely to appear before memo commission

As the memo commission is gradually heading towards the conclusion of its proceedings after Mansoor Ijaz got done with his cross-examination and Husain Haqqani is set to undertake the same from tomorrow (Monday), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman Yaseen Malik is likely to appear before the commission with a “thriller” tomorrow.
Though the commission last Sunday declined the request of former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani to be available for cross-examination via video link at London and directed him to come to Islamabad on the next date of hearing on March 26, he is unlikely to appear before it the day after tomorrow.
His counsel Zahid Bukhari told Pakistan Today that Haqqani was very much determined to arrive in Pakistan so as to be available for cross-examination in Islamabad.
However, he added, there was no confirmation of flight and time of Haqqani’s landing in Pakistan. He said Haqqani was presently in the US and needed time to reach Pakistan.
He further said Haqqani would submit before the commission a further statement. However, sources said Haqqani would not appear before the commission for cross-examination. On March 17, Yaseen Malik’s wife, Mashaal Malik, approached the commission and requested to grant him leave to appear before it, saying he (Yaseen Malik) was very much disturbed over the “allegations” leveled against him by main witness Mansoor Ijaz, adding that he wanted to put the record straight and disclose some facts on the memorandum allegedly generated on behalf of Husain Haqqani and sent to the top US administration.
According to sources, Malik is all set to appear before the commission. During cross-examination, Mansoor Ijaz had stated that he had arranged a meeting between Malik and a RAW high official. Malik took exception to the statement and sent his wife to the commission who stated that since her husband was a public figure, the statement had damaged his repute.
She further said Malik wanted to disclose some important facts before the commission about the memo. The commission had allowed him to appear before it any time he chose.