News
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Haqqani denies any role in memo draftingMemo commission orders issuance of visa to Ijaz
* Rejects ISI chief’s request for an in-camera briefing
* Orders him to provide any sensitive information in a sealed envelope
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: The judicial commission, probing the memogate scandal, on Monday ordered the government to immediately grant a multiple visa to Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz and provide him full security.
The commission also rejected the ISI director general’s plea to record his statement in-camera, however, he was told to deliver ‘secret information’ to the commission in a sealed envelope.
It also said that Ijaz was immune from being prosecuted in Pakistan and that no case would be registered against him. Ijaz will appear before the commission on January 16.
The commission comprising chief justices of three high courts on Monday resumed its working in the Islamabad High Court in the presence of cameras and microphones for recording the proceeding officially. The commission also ordered all the parties except Mansoor Ijaz, Husain Haqqani and the government to provide a list of evidence by January 13.The commission has decided to hear the matter on a day-to-day basis from the next hearing. During the meeting, Akram Sheikh, the counsel for Ijaz, told the commission that his client had been denied visa. Legal representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sher Bahadur, and the advocate general submitted that Ijaz had not yet applied for visa.
The commission, on the request of former ambassador to US Husain Haqqani, recorded his initial statement in which he (Haqqani) said, “I have no role in drafting or delivering the memo to Mike Mullen”. “I have no knowledge of the origin, authenticity and the purpose of the memo,” said Haqqani adding, “On November 16, I had resigned on the basis of being embroiled in the controversy which was accepted on November 22, by the prime minister.”
“I was falsely accused in the media and (by) Ijaz of being the person that communicated the contents of the memo,” said Haqqani.
Recording his preliminary statement before the commission, Haqqani said he was residing in the prime minister’s official residence.
While he was giving his testimony, Akram Sheikh intervened during the proceedings, requesting the commission to ask Haqqani to give waiver of privacy rights by submitting his personal identification numbers (PIN) of two BlackBerry’s, like his client had submitted before the commission. Haqqani said that because he had to rush to Pakistan, therefore, he left his old BlackBerry set in his office in Washington DC. However, he changed his BlackBerry model from bold to curve that is still in his use.
Forensic experts from the ISI and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) also briefed the commission about the possibility of retrieving BlackBerry messages allegedly exchanged between the two.
During the meeting, Zahid Bukhari, Haqqani’s counsel objected to Sheikh, stating “the counsel is representing Mansoor Ijaz without signing power of attorney and affidavits with Ijaz, which is equivalent to forgery”. “First he (Ijaz) may appear, give his testimony and evidence to the commission then we will give our waiver and everything,” Bukhari contended. Later, the commission adjourned hearing until January 16.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk