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Sunday, December 18, 2011
CJP takes suo motu on plea against memogate scandalBy Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: Taking suo motu notice on a plea by a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Saturday issued notices to President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, ISI Director General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, former ambassador to US Husain Haqqani, the attorney genera of Pakistan and others.
Shafqatullah Sohail, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, had sent a letter to the CJP on November 19, pleading that every Pakistani was at threat due to the alleged memo and that there was a need to find out the truth in the interest of the nation.
In his order, the CJP said that this application should be treated as a petition under Article 184(3) of the constitution as prima facie since a threat to the security of Pakistani citizens had been alleged in this matter.
The CJP ordered for fixation of this case along with other cases before a nine-member bench of the Supreme Court tomorrow (Monday).
He stated that the memo was directly related to the security of Pakistan and its armed forces. “Our national security is at stake now and politicians are just making fun of each other by asking so-called committees to conduct inquiry. The committees will delay the outcome rather than (doing) justice,” the applicant said.
He contended that if the contents of the memo were true, then each and every Pakistan was at risk due to the present government and that this government was not safeguarding the interest of its own people and departments, but it was securing the interest of other nations or enemies of Pakistan.
“My family members are in the army and all family members are in Pakistan, therefore, I am feeling insecure from this government because they could invite our enemies to kill us,” the applicant added.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk