Haqqani’s counsel concludes arguments in memo hearing

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Zahid Bukhari, counsel for former Pakistani Ambassador to US Husain Haqqani, concluded his wide-ranging arguments Friday and gave comprehensive answers to the various facets of memo controversy.
He pleaded the Commission must restrict itself to addressing the issue of origins, authenticity and purpose of the memo. ‘Commission was created in environment of hostility towards Haqqani, generated by those who hate PPP government and President Zardari’ he added.
He said although the Memo fever was over but the Commission had digressed by seeking details about the person of Husain Haqqani, who was not on trial.
He also reminded the Commission probing into issues such as asking for details regarding use of Secret Fund and Haqqani’s terms of employment or property details was extraneous and tantamount to going beyond the mandate of the Commission. ’Mansoor Ijaz’s lawyer Akram Shaikh made many allegations without any proof which were only meant for newspapers and have no legal effect or value,’ he appended.
Clarifying position of Husain Haqqani on the controversy, he said he did not need to prove anything beyond saying that he had nothing to do with the memo.
He lamented the burden of proof had not been met by Mansoor Ijaz, which is why he and his lawyer had resorted to propaganda and falsehoods.
In his detailed arguments Zahid Bukhari cited Qanun-e-Shahadat and added the so-called corroborative evidence in form of emails and Blackberry messages cannot be accepted without forensics under Qanun-e-Shahadat.
‘There is no email or BBM message presented by Ijaz that shows Haqqani asked Mansoor Ijaz to write the memo or deliver it’ he averred. ‘In his cross-questioning’, continued Bukhari, ‘Mr. Ijaz has admitted that he wrote the memo. ’Hence the origin of the memo is from Mansoor Ijaz’ he said. He further elaborated there was no proof of what was said in any phone call made by Mansoor Ijaz to Haqqani.
He made it clear Haqqani received more than 800 phone calls in May2011 because of bin Laden raid so one or two calls from Mansoor Ijaz out of 800are not important.
Zahid Bukhari argued before the Commission no further authenticity of the memo had been established beyond the point that it was delivered by Mansoor Ijaz. He recalled the language and ideas in the memo were similar to ideas expressed by Mansoor Ijaz in his articles.

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