The memo commission on Thursday held the Foreign Office (FO) part of the “cover up team” in the memo scandal, as FO Director General (Americas) Sohail Khan failed to answer even “the simple queries pertaining to the missing blackberry sets of Husain Haqqani in a straight manner”.
“Don’t talk rubbish. What kind of game you are playing (with the commission). You are here to cooperate (with the commission) or do you have another agenda. Are you here to play a game with the commission,” shouted Justice Qazi Faez Isa, chairman of the memo commission. The judicial commission is probing the origin, authenticity and purpose of the memorandum allegedly written under the directions of President Asif Ali Zardari to seek US influence to avert a feared military coup. The DG made the court angry after he failed to reply in clear terms if Haqqani had formally or informally handed over the government property under his use as ambassador to the head of chancery (HoC) at Washington Embassy after relinquishing the post. Sohail also could not give the court a satisfactory reply on whether Haqqani had reported the loss of his two official Blackberry sets to the embassy or the Foreign Office. The answer from the DG was: “We had asked our embassy in Washington to provide response to these queries and they have responded that they (blackberry sets) have not yet been returned to the Mission by Haqqani.”
In response, Justice Isa observed, “You have not answered the question. We know that, but the question is, had he (Haqqani) formally handed over the government property and whether he reported the loss of Blackberry sets to the FO or the embassy concerned?”
The DG replied that he would ask the embassy again to get more precise answer to the questions, and would apprise the commission on the next date of hearing. “Why did you not do so before coming to the commission today,” Justice Isa enquired. He remarked that the order passed by the commission on the last hearing was “very clear”, and that there was no ambiguity in it. “Shall we hold you (DG) in contempt of court and charge you? Have you recommended suspension of any official at the embassy for not complying with your orders? Is it complicated to understand the questions? Shall we presume that you are part of the cover up?” Justice Isa remarked as the DG stood mum at the rostrum. The DG could not even produce a copy of the letter sent in this regard to the Pakistani embassy in Washington. “I have not brought it with me,” the DG told the commission.
The learned judge need to keep his tongue in check. Saying someone "Don't talk rubbish" is not only rude but very disrespectful of a public official, and demeaning of of a human person.
God! why are Pakistani becoming so rude?
Max, if you are what you say your are, Asian cultures are very different. These are group cultures and not individual cultures.
Judges have been respectful all along. The civil officers go in cahoots with politicians which help them in their promotions and postings, This may not be true for all but for a big number and perhaps a majority of civil officers.
Something which you call rude is a norm in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lank as well as Pakistan. By the way Western cultures are not free of their problems.
England
13th April 2012
I fully agree with Max. They are the only so called judges in the world who can talk any think and discuss and judge any thing. I am horrified to read that Mr Qazi, CJ Balochistan too action on some political poster at Rawalpindi airport. It looks there who Pakistan is their jurisdiction. Even General do not act with such a contempt during martial law.
A judge should always be dignified. The language used by Faez Isa is extremely objectionable. Persons with such an attitude do not deserve to be judges in the first place. Our judges always had such attitude problems but with the advent of Iftikhar Chaudhry, they have become more of Sultan Rahis.
What the civil servant is doing? He is clearly concealing the material facts from the court. do you suggest that the judge should beg for the information asked for. I suggest the civil servant be made State guest at Adiala for some time to make him understand the orders of the court.
As a nation we actually doesn't know what is Justice & can it be done in Pakistan. Yes, we have gone so helpless & sentimental that we don't want anyone to be punish even we always have sympathy with killer not with the innocent people. Look at Karachi, Quetta etc etc…. Did anyone responsible got punish.. No, simply b/c we back them as a party, as sectarian…
talking about Pakistan, every constitutional institution has its rules of business under some parameters, therefore each institution must not cross each other's boundries. the supreme court of Pak's role is to protect the constitution and to make sure the rule of law & justice. it has got nothing to do with the fact that by sticking to its constitutional obligations whether or not democracy is in danger or the democratic system would be derailed. the supreme court of Pak must only ensure the supremacy of the law.
The DG should be hanged in the court since Zardari and Haqqani were involved in writing the memo to embarrass the ARMY further. …Zardari has sold Pakistan to USA and is a servant of American Masters…..Hanged them publicly i.e. both Zardari and Haqqani as they are real snakes and enemies of Pakistan.
Uzair Ahmed
Karachi
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