Former ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani on Saturday declined to appear before the “memogate” commission mandated by the Supreme Court to probe the memo scandal. Husain Haqqani’s counsel Sajid Tanoli said his client had threats to his life in Pakistan, hence, he could not appear before the commission at Islamabad High Court (IHC) in Pakistan.
Haqqani submitted an application with the apex court, requesting the commission to record his statement through video conferencing, just as the statement of American-Pakistani businessman Mansoor Ijaz was earlier recorded, according to Tanoli. Haqqani’s other lawyer, Zahid Bukhari said his client had earlier appealed to the memo commission to record his statement via video link, but the commission asked him to refer it to the Supreme Court.
“If a person who writes against Pakistan can get his statements recorded via video link, then Haqqani can do it as well,” remarked Bukhari. “We will act according to the Supreme Court’s decision.” Haqqani, who is currently in London, has been summoned by the memo commission on March 26. The commission had allowed Haqqani to travel abroad on the condition that he will come back to Pakistan within four days of his summon.